[jamsat-news:2976] ANS-191 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-191

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:

* ARISSat-1/KEDR Deployment Timeline Driven by ISS Schedules
* AO-51 Operations Update
* AMSAT Awards
* Satellite Beginners Workshop Planned For AMSAT-UK 2011 Colloquium
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
* More University Satellite Missions in Preparation


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-191.01
ARISSat-1/KEDR Deployment Timeline Driven by ISS Schedules

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 191.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 10, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-191.01

ARISSat-1/KEDR Project Manager Gould Smith, WA4SXM provided the 
latest deployment information to the AMSAT News Service. Gould
said he and ARISS Hardware Engineer Lou McFadin, W5DID partici-
pated in a teleconference call this week with NASA to review
the Roscosmos EVA procedures for the release of ARISSat-1/KEDR 
during Russian EVA 29.

Gould says the preparation procedures include the battery being 
charged and assembled into the satellite. Also discussed were the
procedures to remove the protective quilts from the solar cells 
and turning on the safety switches prior to deployment.

As to the date of deployment, Gould summarized, "The deployment date 
for ARISSat is still soft, a major factor is the shuttle launch. As 
of July 6 the EVA date is in early August, but the shuttle launch 
and docking are driving the timeline. During our discussion it was 
noted that the ARISSat/KEDR deployment is the first task of the EVA, 
so it will occur fairly soon after the EVA begins. Since we have no 
firm date or time for the EVA we cannot predict where the satellite 
will be heard first. We will let everyone know more as we know more."

[ANS thanks ARISSat-1/KEDR Project Manager Gould Smith, WA4SXM for 
 the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-191.02
AO-51 Operations Update

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 191.02
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 10, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-191.02

AMSAT Vice-President of Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, pro-
vided the latest details in AMSAT's work to keep AO-51 operational
for as long as possible.

Drew wrote, "Keeping AO-51 operating requires the US command team 
routinely restarting the satellite, and tweaking the power settings 
to find a combination of operating parameters to get it through 
eclipse. Currently one of the 6 battery cells onboard is shorted, 
and another is in really poor shape."

Continuing, Drew explains, "The onboard computer was crashing each 
orbit because of low voltage when the solar cells were no longer re-
ceiving illumination and the satellite relies entirely on its inter-
nal battery power. Through experimentation the Command Team seems 
to have found a balance point where it will sometimes go up to two 
days before crashing."

Each time the computer crashes the Command Team has to restart 
it using the housekeeping software onboard in ROM. The firmware
code has a limited functionality compared to the normal flight 
software which we would upload from the ground over a few days 
time. However the eclipses and battery problem were causing a
crash before the upload can complete.

Drew concludes, "With lots of luck we will be able to continue to 
limp along. How long is anyone's guess. I'd encourage you to use 
AO-51 while it's available, and to financially support new satel-
lite programs like Kiwisat, Funcube, and Fox when you can."

Uplink:   145.880 MHz, no tone.
Downlink: 435.150 MHz
The repeater is open to all when the satellite is operational.

Keep up with the latest AO-51 Control Team News on-line at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php

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

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-191.03
AMSAT Awards

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 191.03
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 10, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-191.03

AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO says that
congratulations are in order for these satellite operators for
having earned these operating awards:

The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club 
for making their first satellite QSO:
+ Robert Sheskin, N3PPH

The following have earned the AMSAT Communications Achievement Award:
+ Claudio Ferrari, IK1YRC #537
+ Berufliches Schulzentrum Elektrotechnik Dresden, DL0IKT 
  (club station) #538
+ Mark Korroch, WB8TGY #539

The following have earned the AMSAT Sexagesimal Award:
+ Mark Korroch, WB8TGY #161

The following have earned the South Africa Satellite Communications 
Achievement award:
+ Berufliches Schulzentrum Elektrotechnik Dresden, DL0IKT 
  (club station) #US167
+ Mark Korroch, WB8TGY #US168

The following earned upgrades to their basic Robert W. Barbee Jr., 
W4AMI Award:
+ Gail McDaniel, KB0RZD 2K, 3K, 4K

The following have earned their Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI 
5000 Award:
+ Gail McDaniel, KB0RZD #28

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

Bruce also reminds you that mere hours remain before the dead-
line to send in your satellite Field Day results. The Satellite 
Summary Sheet (on pages 3-4 of the AMSAT Field Rules) should be 
used for submission of the AMSAT Field Day competition.

The Rules and the Satellite Summary Sheet can be downloaded from
links at http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com

http://tinyurl.com/3eztlaf (amsat.org)
http://www.amsatnet.com/2011fd.doc
http://www.amsatnet.com/2011fd.pdf

Your entry must be received by KK5DO (email or postal mail) by 11:59
P.M. CDT, Monday, July 11, 2011. The preferred method for submitting
your log is via e-mail to kk5do@amsat.org or kk5do@arrl.net.

You will receive an email back (within one or two days) from Bruce
when he receives your email submission. If you do not receive a con-
firmation message, try sending it again or send it to his other email
address.

Certificates will be awarded to the first-place emergency power/
portable station at the AMSAT General Meeting and Space Symposium
in November 2011. Certificates will also be awarded to the second
and third place portable/emergency operation in addition to the
first-place home station running on emergency power. Stations sub-
mitting high, award-winning scores will be requested to send in
dupe sheets for analog contacts and message listings for digital
downloads.

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

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-191.04
Satellite Beginners Workshop Planned For AMSAT-UK 2011 Colloquium

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 191.04
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 10, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-191.04

AMSAT-UK will be holding a Satellite Beginner's Workshop at 4pm on 
Friday afternoon, July 29, to teach newcomers how to get started in 
the fascinating world of Amateur Radio Space communications.

With some satellites you can communicate using little more than a 
standard dual-band FM handheld. Others use SSB or CW and permit 
intercontinental DX communications using the VHF/UHF bands.

The Beginners Workshop will be run by Dave G4DPZ and Carlos G0AKI and 
takes place at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ. Look for the RSGB 
GB4FUN vehicle in the car park.

The AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium takes place
Saturday/Sunday, July 30/31, details at:
http://www.uk.amsat.org/

Don't forget your camera ...

AMSAT-UK has just launched a new look website http://www.uk.amsat.org/

As part of this new look, we have embarked on a new photo gallery, 
so if you have any photos related to AMSAT-UK, feel free to upload 
to our new Gallery, which can be found here:
http://www.uk.amsat.org/Gallery3/

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-191.05
Satellite Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 191.05
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 10, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-191.05

+ SO-67 has returned to operation after recovery from a cosmic ray
  upset. Operation over North America has already taken place be-
  tween July 7-10. Operation over Europe is planned for July 11-17.
  Operation over Australia, New Zealand, Japan is planned for
  July 18-31. The latest details are posted at:
  http://www.amsatsa.org.za/

+ You can turn your smartphone into an ISS visible pass predictor
  with the iPhone and Android aps available at: 
  http://simpleflybys.com . 
  Web based predictions are also available using the Simple Satellite 
  Tracker at http://spaceweather.com/flybys .

+ UniverseToday has an interesting news item today about United Launch 
  Alliance's launch complex. Take a tour starting at:
  http://www.universetoday.com/87156/launch-complex-37b-level-by-level/

+ Goddard Space Flight Center has released a video (with sound) so
  you can experience first-hand a ride aboard a sounding rocket.
  Hold on to your tummy and watch at: http://tinyurl.com/3ptsgrh
  (UniverseToday)

+ Giving practical definition to the informal Q-signal "QLF? - Are you
  you sending with your left foot?" the Giant Morse Key constructed by 
  2E0DIT will reappear at ASTROFAIR 2011 Sidmouth, Devon on August 6.
  For more info see: 
  http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/nlo/Astronomy_Fair~EN.php
  Watch the video at Southgate - http://tinyurl.com/68dase2 to see if
  your shoe size measures up.

+ UniverseToday posted photos and video of the testing and integration
  of NASA's Orion Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle:
  http://tinyurl.com/6zm4wn8

+ A photo gallery of the Minotaur rocket launch from the Virginia coast
  is posted at: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/ors1/launch/

+ Congratulations to Jeff, WB3JFS for earning his VUCC Satellite 
  Award #217!

+ Stefan HB9ZEM has released a video showing his prototype Amateur Radio 
  satellite Azimuth/Elevation tracker. See:
  http://www.southgatearc.org/news/july2011/satellite_tracker_video.htm

+ See what you missed at Friedrichshafen:
  http://www.southgatearc.org/news/july2011/friedrichshafen_video.htm

+ The 2nd Issue of The Egyptian Radio Amateur Magazine "CQ EGYPT" 
  JULY 2011 is at: http://erasd.net/CQSUAMATEURRADIOMAGAZIN.aspx

[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-191.06
More University Satellite Missions in Preparation

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 191.06
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 10, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-191.06

Italian EduSAT Launch July 21
-----------------------------
EduSAT is funded and coordinated by Italian Space Agency with 
the aim to promote space education among high school students 
and to support the qualification and scientific careers of young 
people, as university students, PhD students and young researchers. 
Another target of this program is to develop a small space mission 
for low cost scientific experiments and technological tests in 
orbit.

Edusat is currently slated to launch on a Russian Dnepr-1 on July 21.
It is planned that Eduasat will deploy the MyPocketQubs, the two 
Eagle payloads and the ScoutQub sometime after launch. Its downlink 
will operate under an Italian Telecommunications Ministry experimental 
licence on 435.750 MHz.

The Group of Astrodynamics of the "Sapienza" University of Roma 
(GAUSS) web page is at: http://tinyurl.com/6kov8ow


UNM's Trailblazer CubeSat Planned Launch March 2012
---------------------------------------------------
The Configurable Space Microsystems Innovations and Applications 
Center (Cosmiac) of The University of New Mexico has received notice
from NASA that UNM's Trailblazer satellite has been manifested on 
the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) IV Mission on a 
Falcon 9 rocket. This satellite will provide a proof of concept flight 
for an Air Force Sponsored bus design called Space Plug-and-play Arch-
itecture (SPA). The PnP type architecture is a capability that will 
allow for rapid satellite development and delivery similar to what 
is currently available in a home computer. The payload includes a
variety of space weather projects including a dosimeter, gyro and 
magnetometer. Plans call for a 325km circular orbit with a 51.6 de-
gree inclination. The IARU has coordinated a downlink frequency of 
437.425 MHz.

Watch as Craig Kief, KE5VSH, deputy director of the Configurable 
Space Microsystems Innovations and Applications Center (COSMIAC)
discusses the mission at: http://tinyurl.com/43ps2h2 (Southgate)

[ANS thanks the CubeSat Teams at GAUSS and UNM COSMIAC 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 the ham who took up playing golf. He brought his
XYL with him to the links but after a short while he had to tell her
she asked too many questions. The XYL replied, "But I just asked why
did you hit that ball into the lake?"

73,
This week's ANS Editor,
JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM
K9JKM at amsat dot org

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