[jamsat-news:2329] ANS-056 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins for appro

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-056

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:

* AMSAT-DC Meeting and Space Seminar Coming March 24
* Call for Papers
* AMSAT Journal Vol 30 #1
* Passing of an Old Friend
* ARISS Status Report for the Week of February 20, 2007
* Shorts from all over

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-056.01
AMSAT-DC Meeting and Space Seminar Coming March 24

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 056.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 25, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-056.01

Are you near Washington, D.C. or know someone who is?  Then YOU ARE
HEREBY INVITED to the next AMSAT-DC Meeting and Space Seminar.  The
day-long event will be held on Saturday, March 24 near BWI airport.

Get the meeting announcement at
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/fieldops/eventDetail.php?eID=259
and share it with others.

In building our agenda, we are lining up one or two presentations
from local folks who are building a CubeSat of all things!  We'll
take a close look at the brand new AMSAT lab on our eastern shore.
Get news on a new S-Band beacon. Lots more will be offered too.

Please forward this event announcement to one who might like to know
about it.  Take it to a club meeting.  Announce it on a net.  Gosh,
tell a high school or college student -- and an instructor too.
All are invited.

[ANS thanks Pat, N8PK, AMSAT-DC Co-host for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-056.02
Call for Papers

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 056.02
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 25, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-056.02

Call for Papers
11th Annual Southeastern VHF Society Conference
April 27th and 28th, 2007
Atlanta, Georgia

The Southeastern VHF Society is calling for the submission of papers and
presentations for the upcoming 11th Annual Southeastern VHF Society
Conference to be held in Atlanta, Georgia on April 27th and 28th, 2007.
Papers and presentations are solicited on both the technical and
operational aspects of VHF, UHF and Microwave weak signal amateur radio.
  In general papers and presentations on non weak signal related topics
such as FM repeaters and packet will not be accepted but exceptions may
be made if the topic is related to weak signal.  For example, a paper or
presentation on the use of APRS to track rovers during contests would be
considered.

The deadline for the submission of papers and presentations is March 2,
2007.  All submissions should be in Microsoft Word (.doc) or
alternatively Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files.  Pages are 8 and 1/2 by 11
inches with a 1 inch margin on the bottom and ? inch margin on the other
three sides.  All text, drawings, photos, etc. should be black and white
only (no color).  Please indicate when you submit your paper or
presentation if you plan to attend the conference and present there or
if you are submitting just for publication.  Papers and presentations
will be published in bound proceedings by the ARRL.  Send all questions,
comments and submissions to the technical program chair, Jim Worsham,
W4KXY at w4kxy@bellsouth.net.  For further information about the
conference please go to www.svhfs.org.

[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-056.03
AMSAT Journal Vol 30 #1

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 056.03
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 25, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-056.03

The newest edition of the AMSAT Journal is now out in the mail to
everyone.  Quietly, Ed Long, WA4SWJ, Editor has produced the 30th
edition of this fine publication.  Included this month are articles and
updated information on the Phase 3 E bird and Eagle.  A great article
on AO-51 and what it takes to actually receive any signals from this
Bird.  All AMSAT-NA members receive this publication as part of
membership.  Visit the AMSAT-NA website to find out more about becoming
a member to help support satellite building and operational activities.
Ed long deserves applause for another great edition of the AMSAT Journal
and a tireless effort to keep us informed.  Keep him well fed in
articles and projects as required.

[ANS thanks (from) Ed Long, WA4SWJ, for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-056.04
Passing of an Old Friend

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 056.04
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 25, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-056.04


As of February 23, 2007, Our Old Friend "morse code" has now slipped
into history as a requirement for a U.S. Amateur License.  The tones and
burps in the lower portions of the HF bands will become more and more
silent as those that remember CW start to become silent keys themselves.
  "Silent Key" will go by the wayside as well.  As a longtime Extra, I
can honestly say that getting up to speed was an excitement all its own.
  Just 5 WPM for my Novice was a thrill learning those mysterious tones.
I for one, can certainly see it both as a defunct digital mode and a
unique mode to operate pulling out a QSO from those melodius tones.
Ditty dum dum ditty will have a narrower meaning from this time on.

[ANS thanks Dee, NB2F for the above insight]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-056.05
ARISS Status Report for the Week of February 20, 2007

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 056.05
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 25, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-056.05

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report
February 20, 2007




1.	Hanazono Elementary School Contact Successful

On Monday, February 12, children attending Hanazono Elementary School in
Akashi-city, Japan experienced an Amateur Radio on the International
Space Station (ARISS) contact. Twelve students were able to have twenty
questions answered by Sunita Williams, KD5PLB in front of an audience of
approximately 200 students, teachers and parents. The local government
newspaper and the local television station covered the event.

The American Radio Relay League ran an article on the contact entitled,
ŧresh Food Doesn't Last Long on ISS, Astronaut Tells Youngsters via Ham
Radio.See: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/02/14/101/?nc=1

2.	Upcoming School Contacts

The Vasant Valley School in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India has been
approved for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
contact on Saturday, February 24 at 08:50 UTC, via the telebridge
station WH6PN in Hawaii. The school is organizing a workshop on amateur
radio and its applications for the students of classes VI to XII. The
CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) introduced a new curriculum
on Emergency Disaster Management for Class X students. It has a chapter
on Á¢lternative Communication Systemswhich includes ham radio. Amateur
Radio licensing programs will be provided for training students and
teachers, and there are plans for an amateur radio club station to be
set up at the school. Students will participate in essay contests and
poster competitions, and the press will be invited to the event. The
audio from this contact will be fed into the EchoLink AMSAT (101 377)
and JK1ZRW (277 208) servers, as well as into the IRLP Discovery
Reflector 9010.
Vasant Valley School is very excited to have this opportunity to speak
with Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, and has invited all students, teachers and
parents of Delhi schools to attend the event. It has announced the
contact on its website. See:
http://www.vasantvalley.org/vasantvalley/sunitawilliams.htm
Kalpana ChawlaÃÔ niece & nephew, Megha and Udais, attend Vasant Valley
School, which is a Sunita Williams crew pick.


Escola Camilo Castelo Branco in Carnaxide, Portugal has been approved
for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact
on Monday, February 26 at 15:51 UTC via the telebridge station VK5ZAI in
Australia.  The high school students have a curriculum which includes
Physics, Chemistry and Philosophy. One of the main goals of this project
is to study current scientific and technological development.  Many of
these students will continue their studies at the university, choosing
areas related to aerospace engineering and taking with them new
knowledge from this event.
  The audio from this contact will be fed into the EchoLink AMSAT (101
377) and JK1ZRW (277 208) servers, as well as into the IRLP Discovery
Reflector 9010.

Virginia Run Elementary School in Centreville, Virginia has been slated
for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact
on Friday, March 2 at 16:18 UTC. This contact is a Suni Williams, KD5PLB
crew pick.

3.	Boulder Hill School Prepares for Contact

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact is
tentatively planned for Boulder Hill Elementary School in Montgomery,
Illinois during the week of March 5.  The schoolÃÔ radio club has been
busy preparing for the contact. Students have built Morse code
transmitters and crystal radio receivers. They have spoken to other hams
over the radio and have been studying for their amateur radio license
exams. A press release was posted to both the Beacon News and Elgin
Courier News websites. See:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com:80/beaconnews/news/248818,2_1_AU08_SPACE_S1.article

and
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/250269,3_1_EL09_A3RADIO_S1.article

4.	ARRL Article on ISS Crew Hams

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran an article on the crews
assigned to the International Space Station over the next two years,
many of whom hold their amateur radio licenses. See:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/02/13/101/?nc=1


[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-056.06
Satellite Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 056.06
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 25, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-056.06

+ The Southern Africa Amateur Radio Satellite Association (SA AMSAT)
   will be holding its annual space communications conference in Gauteng
   on Saturday 23 June 2007. South AfricaÃÔ latest satellite project
   SumbandilaSat which is planned for launch in June and carries Amateur
   Radio Equipment. For more information about the conference visit
   http://www.amsatsa.org.za.

+ AMSAT-UK reminds everyone the dates for the 2007 AMSAT-UK Colloquium
   are 20 through 22 July 2007. We are holding it a week earlier than
   normal to avoid clashing with the Central States VHF Event. Venue is
   to be the University of Surrey, as per previous years.
   Details of the colloquium can be found at: http://www.uk.amsat.org.

+ Planning has started for the October 2007 AMSAT-NA Space symposium
   which will be held in Pittsburgh this year.  More details are coming
   soon.

+ Paul, 2E1EUB plans portable satellite operations from northeastern
   Scotland (grid IO86ok) for nine days starting on March 3. He wil be
   using the callsign 2M1EUB/P; QSL via home call.  Operation will in-
   clude AO-7 for those in North America and all of the satellites for
   European coverage.

+ The University of New South Wales in Australia is building BlueSat
   which will include amateur radio frequencies.  More information about
   this project is on-line at: http://www.bluesat.unsw.edu.au.

+ A recording has been put on-line for those wishing to hear the RAFT
   satellite speak. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/70223raf.wav
   RAFT is speaking, "This is JE9PEL via RAFT".  (Thanks Mineo, JE9PEL)

[ANS thanks everyone 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.org















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