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AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-346
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.
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
You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service
Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see:
https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/
In this edition:
* Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY, Appointed Assistant VP, Engineering
* AMSAT-HB Has Been Established
* World's Smallest Lander from Japan will Put Ham Radio on the Moon
* Analyzing Starlink Satellite Downlink Communications With SDR
* ARISS Named Amateur Radio Newsline Newsmaker of the Year
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 9, 2021
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
ANS-346 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
To: All RADIO AMATEURS
>From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002
DATE 2021 Dec 12
Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY, Appointed Assistant VP, Engineering
At a meeting with the Board of Directors on Tuesday, December 7 VP
Engineering appointed Jonathan Brandenburg as Assistant Vice President,
Engineering to oversee a new program tentatively named "Fox Plus".
"Jonathan brought a new idea to me, for continuous LEO presence through a
refresh of AMSAT's Fox-1 FM Satellite. In using the basic Fox-1 bus
design, the ability to fly not only student STEM experiments but our own
radio experiments as well, provides an opportunity to refresh the presence
of LEO "Easy-Sat" type communications and bring in new volunteer engineers
to develop the new transceiver and power supply needed to resurrect Fox-1
type CubeSats" said Jerry Buxton, VP Engineering.
"In addition, Jonathan has further intentions targeting frequent deliveries
of Fox Plus CubeSats into orbit, wide use of open-source in the program,
and utilizing the ASCENT platform for development of future iterations of
Fox Plus."
"The Fox Plus working title indicates both the continued Fox-1 type
presence in LEO as well as the added growth in technology and human
resources that will come with the program. I think it is a well thought,
and very suitable name for the new program."
The 2022 Engineering budget which was also part of the meeting and passed
by the Board includes funds for the startup of the new program.
"Jonathan has a good vision and plan for this new program that will
generate new engineering opportunities, especially focused on new
volunteers working in groups on parts of the whole. Fox Plus will also
provide the open source startup that we were seeking, and work on Fox Plus
and through ASCENT should provide new technology for use beyond LEO as
well, as we continue our course in returning to HEO" Buxton said.
Jonathan has already begun work, and will be reaching out with updates and
information on how to volunteer as the program gets into gear in early 2022
.
[ANS thanks Jerry Buxton, AMSAT VP Engineering, for the above information]
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AMSAT-HB Has Been Established
A new amateur radio satellite organisation AMSAT-HB was formed in
Switzerland on November 26, 2021.
With QO-100, interest in amateur radio services via satellites has also
risen sharply in Switzerland. But not only the geostationary satellite
fascinates the radio amateurs: The ARISS project (space station ISS),
low-flying satellites, tracking of scientific deep space missions, etc.,
are attracting more and more attention. More and more experiments are being
carried out with SDR technology in these areas.
But the colleges and universities are also increasingly concerned with the
topic and are looking for help from various radio amateurs in Switzerland.
These and other radio amateurs were of the opinion that it was time to join
forces in Switzerland. For this reason, the AMSAT-HB was founded on Friday,
November 26th, 2021 in Nottwil, Lucerne. The association has set itself the
goal of promoting the amateur radio service via satellites in Switzerland,
but also internationally.
The President of AMSAT-DL, Peter GĆ¼lzow - DB2OS, was involved in this
project in advance. He suggested the establishment of an AMSAT-HB early on
and also used his knowledge to help design it. When it was founded, Peter
GĆ¼lzow took on the role of godparent and led the founding meeting live
from
Hanover via Web.
The following radio amateurs were involved as founding members
(alphabetically according to callsign - the board positions in brackets)
ā¢ DB2OS, Peter GĆ¼lzow (founding god and now honorary member of
AMSAT-HB)
ā¢ HB9ARK, Martin Klaper (Technical Responsible)
ā¢ HB9CQK, FrĆ©dĆ©ric Furrer
ā¢ HB9DUN / DH2VA, Achim Vollhardt
ā¢ HB9MFL, Armin Rƶsch
ā¢ HB9SKA, Thomas Frey (Actuary and Treasurer ad interim)
ā¢ HB9RYZ, Wolfgang Sidler (Vice President)
ā¢ HB9WDF, Michael Lipp (President)
One of the first decisions of the association was to apply to the USKA for
collective membership.
AMSAT-HB
https://www.amsat-hb.org/
https://twitter.com/Amsat_hb
USKA
https://www.uska.ch/
[ANS thanks Thomas Frey, HB9SKA, Actuary AMSAT-HB for the above information
]
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Join the 2021 President's Club!
Score your 2" 4-Color Accent Commemorative Coin.
This gold finished coin comes with
Full Color Certificate and Embroidered "Remove Before Flight" Key Tag
Donate today at
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
You won't want to miss it!
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World's Smallest Lander from Japan will Put Ham Radio on the Moon
Japan's OMOTENASHI, the world's smallest moon lander, will have an X-band
and UHF communication system, although it will not carry an amateur band
transponder. OMOTENASHI is a 6U CubeSat set for launch via a NASA SLS
rocket as early as February 2022. It will have a mission period of from 4
to 5 days. The name is an acronym for Outstanding Moon Exploration
Technologies demonstrated by Nano Semi-Hard Impactor. Wataru Torii of the
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Ham Radio Club, JQ1ZVI, said
radio amateurs can play a role in gathering data from the spacecraft.
The spacecraft is made up of two separable components, both having
independent communication systems -- an orbiting module and a surface
probe. The orbiting module will take the surface probe to the moon. It will
transmit beacon or digital telemetry data on UHF (437.31 MHz). The surface
probe -- the moon lander -- will transmit digital telemetry or three-axis
acceleration analog-wave with FM modulation on UHF (437.41 MHz).
Transmitter power will be 1 W in both cases.
"If we succeed in receiving the UHF signal from the surface probe, we could
know the acceleration data on the impact on the moon and the success of the
landing sequence," Torii explained.
"We already have a station for uplink and downlink at Wakayama in Japan --
used as an EME [moonbounce] station. However, if the satellite is invisible
from Japan, we cannot receive the downlink signal. So, we need a lot of
help from ham radio stations worldwide."
The orbiting module beacon will transmit on 437.31 MHz using PSK31. The
surface probe beacon will transmit on 437.41 MHz using FM, PSK31, and
PCM-PSK/PM.
Contact Torii, JQ1ZVI, at torii.wataru [at] jaxa.jp for more information.
[ANS thanks ARRL for the above information]
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Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows,
and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through
AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/
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Analyzing Starlink Satellite Downlink Communications With SDR
Often, mere curiosity is sufficient to do something. This is also the case
with people trying to analyze the communication setup and protocol which
SpaceX is using with their Ku-band based Starlink satellites.
One of these fine folk is Christian Hahn, who has recently posted some
early findings to r/StarlinkEngineering over at Reddit. Some of the
captured data seems to include the satellite ID system that ground-based
user stations would presumably use to keep track of overhead Starlink
satellites.
For the capturing itself, Christian is using a second-hand dish for capture
and a DIY SDR using KC705 FPGA-based hardware ā which may have begu
n its
life as crypto mining hardware ā along with the usual assortment of
filters
and other common components with this kind of capture.
Even at this early time, some features of the Starlink protocol seem quite
obvious, such as the division into channels and the use of guard periods.
Nothing too earth-shattering, but as a fun SDR hobby it definitely checks
all the boxes.
Christian has also announced that at some point heāÖll set up a webs
ite and
publish the findings and code that should make Starlink signal analysis
easy for anyone with a readily available SDR receiver.
https://hackaday.com/2021/11/26/analyzing-starlink-satellite-downlink-commu
nications-with-software-defined-radio/
[ANS thanks Stephen Walters, G7VFY, and Southgate ARC for the above
information]
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AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all
begins with GOLF-TEE ā a technology demonstrator for deployable sol
ar
panels, propulsion, and attitude control, now manifested for launch on
NASA's ELaNa 46 mission. Come along for the ride. The journey will be
worth it!
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF
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ARISS Named Amateur Radio Newsline Newsmaker of the Year
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has been named
Amateur Radio Newsline Newsmaker of the Year.
āThis group, based across 15 countries around the world, has been
supporting amateur radio from the space station and performing school links
around the world to astronauts for over 20 years,ā the announcement
pointed
out. āAs well as enthusing youngsters in the magic of space and rad
io, they
have also generated publicity for amateur radio in the mainstream media
channels of radio, TV, and newspapers.ā
[ANS thanks ARRL for the above information]
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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff
from our Zazzle store!
25% of the purchase price of each product goes
towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear
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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 9, 2021
The following satellite has decayed from orbit and has removed from this
week's AMSAT TLE Distribution:
EcAMSat - NORAD Cat ID 43019 (Decay date per Space-Track was 12-08-2021)
The following satellite is now End of Mission and has been removed from
this week's AMSAT TLE Distribution:
HO-107 (HuskySat-1) - NORAD Cat ID 45119 (per www.amsat.org)
[ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS NEWS
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 unless noted
otherwise below.
RECENT CONTACTS:
Notre Dame Jogakuin Junior and Senior High School, Kyoto, Japan, direct via
8N3ND. Contact with crewmember is Raja Chari KI5LIU was scheduled for
Thursday 2021-12-09 08:33:35 UTC 83 deg.
DLR_School_Lab Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany, multi-point telebridge
via DN2DLR. Contact with crewmember Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH, was scheduled
for Friday 2021-12-10 13:50:53 UTC 61 deg.
Savannah River Academy, Grovetown, GA, direct via K4RGK. Contact with
crewmember Thomas Marshburn, KE5HOC, was scheduled for Friday 2021-12-10
15:09:58 UTC 54 deg
SCHEDULED CONTACTS:
Wolfgang-Kubelka-Realschule (WKR), Schondorf am Ammersee, Germany,
telebridge via IK1SLD. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be
OR4ISS. Contact with crewmember Matthias Maurer, KI5KF, is go for Monday
2021-12-13 09:51:56 UTC 46 deg. Starting about 5 minutes before AOS, watch
for Livestream at: www.ariotti.com
Technisches Bildungszentrum Mitte (TBZ Mitte), Bremen, Germany, direct via
DN3HB AND Carl Prueter Oberschule, Sulingen, Germany, direct via DN6OE. The
ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be DPĆISS. Contact WITH crewmem
ber
is Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH, is go for Thursday 2021-12-16 10:45:25 UTC 74
deg
The next mode change to packet is expected to occur in early December.
The latest information on the operation mode can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html
The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors
for the above information]
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AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an Amateur
Radio package, including two-way communication capability, to
be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit.
Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/
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Upcoming Satellite Operations
K4DCA: Still in planning stages, but has mentioned EM97,EM96, FM07, FM08
Radio Operadores del Este Club (KP3RE) and its FB Ham Satelites Puerto Rico
page will be giving away a certificate until December 31, 2021 to all the
stations that have contacted Puerto RicoāÖs 4 grids FK67, FK68, FK77
and
FK78 on Sat Mode. Need LOTW evidence (Photos) request via kp4rv@yahoo.com
[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through
amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests,
conventions, maker faires, and other events.
None currently scheduled.
[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above
information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ The U.S. Senate has confirmed FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for a
new term on the Commission with a vote of 68 - 31. President Joe Biden
appointed Rosenworcel as Chair of the FCC in late October. For now, the FCC
will continue with two Democrats and two Republicans led by Chairwoman
Rosenworcel. (ANS thanks ARRL for the above information)
+ Scientists have developed a hi-tech sleeping bag that could prevent the
vision problems that some astronauts experience while living in space. Its
development was led by Dr Benjamin Levine, professor of internal medicine
at University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, who is
working on having the device deployed on the International Space Station
(ISS). In zero-gravity, fluids float into the head and squash the eyeball
over time. It's regarded as one of the riskiest medical problems affecting
astronauts. The sleeping bag, developed with outdoor equipment manufacturer
REI, fits around the person's waist, enclosing their lower body within a
solid frame. A suction device, that works on the same principle as a vacuum
cleaner, creates a pressure difference that draws fluid down towards the
feet. This prevents it from building up in the brain and applying damaging
pressure to the eyeball. (ANS thanks BBC.com for the above information)
+ The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is once again fully operational after
experiencing technical issues. With this latest restoration of operations,
Hubble is well on its way to completing 32 years of service. [Not quite
matching AO-7, which is approaching the age of 48! - Editor] (ANS thanks
Universe Today for the above information)
+ NASA announced Dec. 3 its intent to purchase three more commercial crew
missions from SpaceX as a hedge against further delays in the certification
of BoeingāÖs CST-100 Starliner. These missions will be in addition t
o the
six missions that SpaceX won as part of its Commercial Crew Transportation
contract in 2014. SpaceX launched the third of those six original missions,
Crew-3, to the International Space Station on Nov. 10. It is scheduled to
launch the Crew-4 mission in the spring of 2022, likely to be followed by
Crew-5 in the fall of 2022. (ANS thanks Space News for the above
information)
+ Operators are reminded that the AMSAT Live OSCAR Satellite Status Page is
available at https://www.amsat.org/status/ Satellite operators are invited
to consult the page for up to date information about which satellites are
available and functioning. Operators ar also requested to contribute
reports to the Status Page concerning their operations and observations.
(ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information)
+ A key member of the WSJT-X development group āö where FT8 and othe
r
cutting-edge digital amateur radio technology has originated āö has
died.
Bill Somerville, G4WJS, was reported to have passed away earlier this week.
He was in his mid-60s, and his death was unexpected. (ANS thanks ARRL for
the above information)
+ Not quite a Christmas miracle, nor the star of Bethlehem: Comet Leonard
is a rather typical comet going about its typical path around the Sun.
However, it might become visible to the naked eye around its close
approach. On 12 December at 13:52 UTC, it will make its closest approach to
Earth during this rotation, still an enormous 35 million kilometres away.
Look low in the southwestern sky about 45 minutes after sunset. (ANS thanks
ESA for the above information)
+ Please continue to use AO-91 and AO-92 only when the satellites are
illuminated by the sun. AO-92 telemetry and repeater are intermittent.
AO-91 telemetry is turned off but the FM repeater works when the satellite
is in the sun. Reminder: Satellite in sun is approximately equal to user in
daytime. For exact information on eclipse vs. illumination, check software
such as SatPC32. (ANS thanks Burns Fisher, WB1FJ, AMSAT operations, for the
above information)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* 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 student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary
years in this status.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.
Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.
73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
This week's ANS Editor, Mark Johns, K0JM
k0jm at amsat dot org
-----------------------------------------------
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