[jamsat-news:3208] ANS-293 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-293

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:

* Cutoff Dates for AMSAT Space Symposium Quickly Approaching
* AMSAT Symposium - VUCC/WAS Card Checking
* CAMSAT (AMSAT China) DX Party
* Hams in Space Team Appearing at the ARRL Midwest Division Convention
* New Satellite Operator on an Oil Platform in the Gulf of Mexico
* The ARRL Centennial QSO Party Includes Satellite Operation
* ARRL Reinvents Newsletter for Teachers and Instructors


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-293.01
ANS-293 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 293.01
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 20, 2013
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-293.01


Cutoff Dates for AMSAT Space Symposium Quickly Approaching

With the resumption of US Government activities, the upcoming tour of Johnson
Space Center as part of 31st AMSAT Space 
Symposium is back on schedule.  JSC was
closed to visitors during the recently concluded partial federal government
shutdown and if the US Congress had not acted to pass a Continuing Resolution,
the JSC Tour was threatened.  The tour is 
scheduled for Monday morning, 4 NOV 13
and we are once again accepting reservations for individuals to participate in
the JSC tour. However, given the maximum number of participants that JSC can
handle, there are only four slots that are currently open.  Anyone signing up
for the tour once those slots are filled will be 
placed on a waiting list in the
event an existing participant cancels.

AMSAT Space Symposium Committee member Nick Lance, KC5KBO of the Johnson Space
Center Amateur Radio Club (W5RRR) is coordinating the tour.  He will be
submitting the list tour participants to the JSC Public Affairs Office (PAO) by
close of business on Tuesday, 22 OCT in order to allow time for the Center to
perform a security check of those participating 
as well as prepare for the tour.
 Consequently, the cutoff for joining the tour 
and paying the $30.00 fee for the
bus to be used to take participants on the tour 
is Tuesday, 22 OCT by 1400 EDT.
Individuals must call Martha Saragovitz at the AMSAT office (301-589-6062) and
provide a credit card for payment as well as provide information that will be
given to JSC, such as date of birth.  Foreign Nationals will be required to
provide US Visa and their passport information along with date of birth and
country of birth.  Consequently, given the limited number of spaces available
and the need to provide the JSC PAO with the list of participants, contact
Martha at the AMSAT Office ASAP starting Monday, 21 OCT after 1000 EDT when the
office opens.

Nick notes that participants are being offered a unique tour of JSC, observing
"The bus will depart the hotel at 0800 and tour locations include: Neutral
Buoyancy Lab, Building 30 Mission Control, and Building 9 ISS mockup plus
stopping at JSC Amateur Radio Club hamshack (W5RRR) and Space Center Houston
which will also provide time for lunch.  The bus 
will return to the hotel around
1430."

There is also a tour scheduled for Sunday to visit the USS Texas (BB-35).
Details may be found on the AMSAT website:
http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=1638   The cost of the tour is $20.00.

Meanwhile, online registration through the AMSAT Store
(http://store.amsat.org/catalog/index.php?cPath=37&osCsid=
76bqegd12o3jk6oahhpst76085) for the AMSAT Space Symposium, the Saturday Evening
Banquet, the Sunday Morning AMSAT Area 
Coordinators Breakfast, and the USS Texas
tour ends on 25 OCT (Friday).  As noted in last weekend's ANS Bulletin, in
recognition of the 30th anniversary of the flight of Owen Garriott, W5LFL on
STS-9 when amateur radio became first part of human space flight, a multi-media
panel featuring Owen and other key individuals who initiated this amazing
program will take place on Saturday evening as 
part of the banquet, moderated by
AMSAT VP-Human Space Flight Frank Bauer, KA3HDO.  The presentation includes not
only remarks by Owen and others in response to Frank's questions, but video
highlights of amateur radio participation in STS-9 and other Shuttle flights
will be shown.

Walk-in registration at the Symposium takes place 
on Thursday evening, 31 OCT as
well as during the Symposium itself.  Walk-in 
registration will be $10.00 higher
than the online registration.  Banquet reservations, Sunday morning AC
Breakfast, and USS Texas Tour registration MUST be done online which ends on 25
OCT 13. The AMSAT block of rooms at the Marriott 
Hobby Airport, Houston (site of
the Symposium) expired on 16 OCT and are no longer available.

The "Proceedings of the 31st AMSAT Space 
Symposium and Annual Meeting" is at the
printer. A total of 21 papers plus an appendix of Fox-1 technical information
being placed in the public domain has resulted in a 417 page document.  The
schedule of 23 speakers for the Symposium has 
been posted on the AMSAT website.
See:
http://ww2.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013-AMSAT-Symposium-
Presentation-Sked-Rev-B.pdf

The AMSAT Board of Directors meeting takes place on Thursday, 31 OCT and Friday
morning, 1 NOV with the agenda also posted:
http://ww2.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/BoD-2013-Agenda-Rev-A.
pdf

The AMSAT Annual Meeting takes place at 1545 CDT 
on Saturday afternoon following
the conclusion of the presentation of papers.  Arrangements are being made to
use the AMSAT Echolink connection to provide an opportunity for AMSAT members
not attending the Space Symposium to participate in the Annual Meeting. Details
on connecting to the AMSAT Echolink service will be provided prior to Symposium
via ANS once arrangements are finalized.'

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Space Symposium Committee for the above information]


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AMSAT Symposium - VUCC/WAS Card Checking

Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director Contests and 
Awards, will be at the symposium
Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Sunday is the trip to the USS Texas so not much
time) and available to check cards for VUCC satellite or WAS satellite.

Download, the application from the ARRL

For VUCC have a computer generated list in grid square order of your cards with
grid in column 1 and callsign in column 2 (cards sorted in grid square order to
match list, put multiple grid cards at the very end of the stack)

For WAS have a computer generated list in alphabetical order by state in column
1 and callsign in column 2 (cards sorted in state order to match list, put
multiple state cards at end of stack)

Payment can be made to the ARRL either by entering your credit card info on the
application or with a check made out to the ARRL for the appropriate fee.

Bruce will be located near the table where Martha will be.

[ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO, for the above information]


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CAMSAT (AMSAT China) DX Party

BY, China:
Operators BA1EO, BA1DU, BA4TA, BA4TB, BA4RN, BA4WI, BA4ALC, BH4RQU, BH4REQ,
BD5RV, BA7CK, BA9GA, BA9TX, BD9GQ, and BG0GE will operate in the contest of the
CAMSAT (AMSAT China) DX Party from the 19th to 
the 28th as BJ9TA (VHF, including
the ARRL EME Contest (Oct. 26/27)) and as BY9GA/9 (HF, CQ WW DX SSB Contest).
QTH is Dunhuang, in China's north-west (CQ zone 23). QRV on 160m-70cm with 4
stations. QSLs via BA1DU.

[ANS thanks DARC Committee "DX and HF contesting" DX Newsletter DXNL
 for the above information]


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Hams in Space Team Appearing at the ARRL Midwest Division Convention

The Hams in Space Team of KYØF-Eddy Paul, ACØDX-Jeremy Widner, and
KDØHKD-Randy Schulze will be appearing at the ARRL Midwest Division
Convention at Lebanon, Missouri Friday and Saturday, November 8th and
9th.  The Hams in Space presentation provides hams with information
how to successfully get on the air with FM Amateur Radio satellites,
in most cases with equipment they already possess, or by obtaining a
few specialized, inexpensive items.  While explaining techniques and
procedures, an emphasis of “Keep it Simple” and “Have Fun” is stressed
throughout.

This event is a very special event indeed, as this is the ARRL Midwest
Division Convention, being presented by the Lebanon Amateur Radio Club
at the Cowan Convention Center at 500 East Elm in Lebanon, Missouri.
This event is already being proclaimed by many as one of the biggest
ham radio events in North America since the Hamvention® at Dayton!
http://www.arrlmidwestconvention.com/index.html

The Hams in Space Classroom presentation is scheduled to occur on
Saturday at 12:00 Noon, in Room A.  Special guest at our presentation
will be Astronaut, Chuck Nagel, N5RAW, and Colonel USAF Retired!
http://www.arrlmidwestconvention.com/astro/default.html

We plan on scheduling one or two “hands on” demonstrations during the
Convention, weather permitting, and a good pass of SO-50 fitting into
the schedule.  Satellite enthusiasts not attending the Convention are
encouraged to be on the air to work the new guys trying out satellite
work for the first time.

For more information on Hams in Space, go to: http://hamsinspace.com .
For more information on the ARRL Midwest Division Convention, go to:
http://www.arrlmidwestconvention.com/index.html.

73! We Hope to See You There!

[ANS thanks Randy Schulze, KDØHKD for the above information]


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New Satellite Operator on an Oil Platform in the Gulf of Mexico

Kyp, KD5TTZ, is operating on SO50 from an oil platform in the Gulf of
Mexico, in all-water grid square EL48.

[ANS thanks Frank Griffin, K4FEG for the above information]


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The ARRL Centennial QSO Party Includes Satellite Operation

In conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the ARRL, the ARRL
Centennial QSO Party is set to kick off January 1 for a year-long
operating event in which participants can accumulate points and win
awards, as well as working new stations and making new friends.

During 2014 W1AW will be on the air from every state (at least twice)
and most US territories, and it will be easy to work all states solely
by contacting W1AW portable operations. This marks the first
ARRL-sponsored operating event where every member is worth at least
one point.

The event is open to all, although only ARRL members and appointees,
elected officials, HQ staff and W1AW are worth points. Working ARRL's
president, for example, earns 300 points!

To qualify for points all contacts must be two-way using CW, phone
(FM, SSB, AM, digital voice), digital (any digital mode, such as
PSK31, RTTY) on 160, 80, 40, 30, 17, 15, 12, 10, 6, 2 and 1.25 meters,
plus 70 centimeters and satellite.

One QSO on any satellite per eligible station, regardless of mode, is
allowed.

For more details see: http://www.arrl.org/centennial-qso-party

[ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information]


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ARRL Reinvents Newsletter for Teachers and Instructors

The newly reinvented newsletter, Radio Waves! is now available.
You’ll find it posted at:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Radio%20Waves%20Newsletter/Oct-2013_Radio_Waves.
pdf

What you’ll find in this issue includes:

* Ham Radio: From Generation to Generation
* Radio Clubs, Licensing Classes and Learning Activities, Oh My!
* Update on Recent ARISS Activities
* 2013 Teachers Institutes Deliver Immediate Impact
* A Meeting Place for Classroom Teachers
* A Marriage of Robots and Ham Radio
* Exam Prep Jepperdee is Born
* 2014 Tech Question Pool
* 2013 License Statistics
* Upcoming Events, Opportunities and Deadlines

[ANS thanks Debra Johnson K1DMJ and ARRL Educational Services 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


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