Text 1497, 396 rader
Skriven 2007-01-16 21:46:00 av Holger Granholm (2:20/228)
Ärende: Amsat news service ANS014
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AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-014

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 Argentina Launches Pehuensat-1 Amateur Radio Satellite
* FCAL Designated NRL-OSCAR-62
* AMSAT Opportunity for Windows Programmers
* RAFT Control Station Needed in Southern USA
* Updated Firmware Available for the LVB Tracker
* Help Define the Mission for University of Lousiana Cubesat Project
* Space Shorts From All Over
* ARISS Status Report For the Week of January 8, 2007


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.01
AMSAT Argentina Launches Pehuensat-1 Amateur Radio Satellite

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 014.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 14, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.01

AMSAT Argentina announced that Pehuensat-1, the 2nd Argentine amateur
satellite was launched from India by an ISRO PSLV-C7 4 stage rocket on
January 10.  It attained a 635/640 Km polar sun synchronous orbit with
an of inclination 97.92 degrees.

Once activated Pehuensat-1 will transmit voice messages in three
languages, English, Hindi and Spanish and will be heard on 145.825 Mhz
plus an AX25 1200 baud packet following the voice message. More
information can be found at: http://www.amsat.org.ar?f=6.

LU8YD, Alejandro at the Pehuensat control station at the University of
Comahue reported hearing weak signals on 145.825 MHz after the satellite
was activated.  The satellite's controllers are investigating and plan
to report on their findings.

A quick view of the next passes at your location is available on-line.
Go to http://www.amsat.org.ar, then click on the small revolving globe
off of the coast of Argentina, select your location from the map, and
then select PEHUENSAT-1.

AMSAT Argentina provided the following 2-line keplerian elements:

PEHUENSAT-1
1 29710U 07001B   07011.96059777 -.00000065  00000-0 -16231-5 0   101
2 29710  97.9483  73.1578 0012960 268.9216  91.0485 14.79281628   278

[ANS thanks AMSAT Argentina for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.02
FCAL Designated NRL-OSCAR-62

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 014.02
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 14, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.02

Bill Tynan, W3XO, AMSAT OSCAR Coordinator issued the following statement
this week, "By the authority vested in me by the AMSAT-NA President, I
am pleased to issue an OSCAR number for the FCAL amateur radio
satellite.

>From the information provided me, I conclude that, FCAL complies with all
of the requirements for an OSCAR number.  In accordance with your
request, the prefix will be NRL.  Thus, FCAL will henceforth be known as
NRL-OSCAR-62 or NO-62.

AMSAT-NA and I wish to congratulate you and your entire NRL Amateur
Radio Club team for the successful construction, testing and orbiting of
this spacecraft."

73 and Best Wishes,
William A. (Bill) Tynan, W3XO

[ANS thanks Bill, W3XO for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.03
AMSAT Opportunity for Windows Programmers

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 014.03
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 14, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.03

AMSAT-NA VP Operations, Drew KO4MA, posted a help wanted request this
week. AMSAT-NA has two opportunities available for Windows programmers. 
Drew said, "We have two projects that are in need of talent, both in
support of Operations. This is a great chance to support AMSAT and
amateur satellites in a real and tangible way."

The first project involves writing a GUI XP compatible program to read
mixed ASCII and binary telemetry files, extract, reformat, and display
the data. Some basic statistics and producing a .csv file are also
highly desireable features. Console versions of these programs already
exist created in Visual C++ 2005 Studio Express. Support for the
finished product will be limited to a few internal users in support of
AO-51.

The second project involves developing a GUI XP compatible program
around some prexisting AX.25 and soundcard code for a UI satellite
communications program. Ease of installation and use are high on the
priority list for this project, and support will be required for
widespread use. A team approach may be best regarding support (read this
as "bring a team with you").  This will be done in support of an effort
to increase usage and visibility of the several Microsats currently in
orbit and functional.

Please send an e-mail to ko4ma@amsat.org indicating your willingness to
help, and Drew will be happy to explain further.

[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.04
RAFT Control Station Needed in Southern USA

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 014.04
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 14, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.04

Bob, WB4APR, writing from the US Naval Academy Small Satellite
Laboratory says, "We need a volunteer command station for RAFT in the
southern states from Arizona through Texas to Georgia.  The southern
command station will enable RAFT's 216.98 MHz radar fence transponder."

Station requirements include:
1) An AZ/EL tracking OSCAR array on 2 meters with preamp capable of
   weak signal reception.
2) AX.25 standard TNC at 1200 baud and PC to run a DOS program.
3) A recorder to record the 145.825 MHz downlink audio when RAFT flies
   through the fence.

You need access to your station during morning (~9 AM) or afternoon
(~5 PM) passes.

Bob continued, "The RAFT packet-to-voice mode has been enabled for the
first 3 weeks and several stations have made contact. Next week, we will
enable the PSK-31 transponder on RAFT.  This transponder is 28.120 USB
MHz PSK-31 SSB uplink and 2 meters FM down.  The PSK Mode is turned on
when a station performs a packet 'CONNECT RAFT' which will bring up the
10m RX and 145.825 TX for 1 minute."

RAFT Satellite information is available on-line at:
http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html

Telemetry web pages for the US Naval Academy satellites are available
at: http://www.g4dpz.me.uk/ANDE/RAFThome.do
http://www.g4dpz.me.uk/ANDE/home.do

[ANS thanks Bob, WB4APR for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.05
Updated Firmware Available for the LVB Tracker

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 014.05
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 14, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.05

Howard, G6LVB reminds users of the LVB Tracker rotor control system that
he has a new set of firmware that includes compatibility for use with
the Predict tracking program.

Howard explained, "I discovered that Predict sent null characters at the
start of each command that meant the old firmware got confused and
ignored the command. The updated LVB Tracker version ignores these null
characters."

Contact Howard at g6lvb@amsat.org if you would like to test the new
firmware and give it the thumbs up.

When you purchase an LVB Tracker kit, a handsome donation goes towards
building new satellites!

See:
http://www.uk.amsat.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=245&Itemid
=142 (watch the line wrap)

[ANS thanks Howard, G6LVB for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.06
Help Define the Mission for University of Lousiana Cubesat Project

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 014.06
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 14, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.06

Nick, K5QXJ reported, "The cubesat team at the University of Louisiana
is in the process of defining its second mission for its cubsat project.
The team has decided to fly a cubesat that has a educational component.
We are asking for ideas that would excite K through 12 students that can
be flown on a cubesat such as 1 watt of dc power in a 4 inch cube to
help students receive it. In addition to the education component the
team is thinking of flying a high efficient radio perhaps BPSK with a
forward error corrected  code with Eb/No of < 3 db. Again here we are
asking for input in the mission defini- tion and help in the
implementation including peer review."

Contact Nick at k5qxj@amsat.org with your ideas.

[ANS thanks Nick, K5QXJ for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.07
Space Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 014.07
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 14, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.07

+ If you watch the morning or evening sky and have a clear view of the
  horizon, you will be able to spot Comet McNaught.  Spaceweather.com
  provided these viewing tips:

  o At dawn, go outside and face east. Using binoculars, scan the
horizon.
  o The comet is located just south of due east.
  o At sunset, go outside and face west. Using binoculars, scan the
horizon.
  o The comet is located low and to the right of Venus
  o A clear view of the horizon is essential for either sunrise or
sunset.

+ A notice seen on the AO-27 web page at http://www.ao27.org/ says, "We
have
  successfully reset the CPU on AO-27. AO-27 is now commandable and is
sit-
  ting at the bootloader. We are beginning the process of uploading
flight
  software. The transmitter was very strong during our tests. This is
very
  good news."

+ A paper presented at the meeting of the American Astronomical Society
in
  Seattle last week suggests that new analysis of Viking mission results
  indicates presence of life on Mars.  Scientists said, "We may already
have
  'met' Martian organisms." This hypothesis arises from on-going
analysis of
  data from experiments done by the Viking Mars landers in the late
1970s.
  The researchers propose that the microbe-like organisms use a mixture
of
  water and hydrogen peroxide as their internal fluid. Other scientists
dis-
  pute this claim, stating no one has been able to duplicate these
condi-
  tions in laboratory testing on Earth. (MarsDaily.com)

+ Britain is considering plans for its own moon shot, the BBC said on
  Tuesday, citing plans submitted to the body that funds British space
  exploration.  Proposals for two missions have been submitted to the
  Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, and the first, if
  approved, could be launched by 2010.  According to Professor Martin
  Sweeting, founder and chief executive of Surrey Satellite Technology
  Ltd., which prepared the study for the funding body, the cost of space
  exploration had fallen enough for Britain to "go it alone".  British
  science officials later stated that the moon mission proposal has a
  lower priority than other space initiatives under consideration at
  this time. (SpaceDaily.com)

+ The deadline is approaching for you to send your name to the moon
aboard
  the Japanese Space Agency's Selene Lunar Explorer.  You have until
Jan-
  uary 31 to submit your name and a short message which will be affixed
to
  the space craft frame. Your name is limited to 10 letters and your
short
  message is limited to 40 letters.  You can submit your information at:
  http://www.jaxa.jp/pr/event/selene/index_e.html

+ SKN Best Fist Nominations Due.  Please send your nomination to
  w2rs@amsat.org. A list of those nominated will be published in an ANS
  bulletin in early February, and in The AMSAT Journal.

[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.08
ARISS Status Report For the Week of January 8, 2007

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 014.08
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 14, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.08

1. Australian Scout Jamboree Contact Successful

A successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
contact was carried out with scouts attending the Australian Scout
Jamboree 2007 on Sunday, January 7 via the telebridge station VK4KHZ in
Australia. Nineteen students were able to ask one question each of
Sunita Williams, KD5PLB. Approximately thirteen thousand scouts and
eight thou- sand leaders from 53 countries attended the event. Photos
taken of the Jamboree s amateur radio station may be viewed on:
http://www.wia.org.au/news/2007/20070103-01.php

For a write up and photographs of the contact, see:
http://www.wia.org.au/news/2007/20070108-01.php

2. ARISS Completed School Contacts

Sherman Elementary School in Henrietta, New York completed a direct
ARISS contact on Monday, January 8, 2007. The contact may be viewed on:
https://breeze.rit.edu/ariss.

On Monday, January 8, 2007, students at Dilworth Elementary School in
San Jose, California spoke with Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, on board the
ISS via amateur radio.

3. ARISS Upcoming School Contacts

Seventh grade students from Northlawn and St. Anthony Schools in
Streator, Illinois have been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the ISS
(ARISS) contact on Tuesday, January 16 at 17:28 UTC.  The Starved Rock
Radio Club, a local Amateur Radio Club, will assist in the contact.

Romeo Elementary School in Dunnellon, Florida has been approved for an
ARISS contact on Wednesday, January 17 at 17:53 UTC. The coordinating
teacher received two grants which were used to purchase radio equipment,
an antenna, a satellite tracking program and ARISS resource materials.
Arrangements have been made for astronaut Joe Acaba, a former Dunnellon
teacher, to visit around the time of the ARISS contact. The Silver
Spring Radio Club set up a website for the community to keep up with
ARISS activities. See: http://www.phys.ufl.edu/~eshop/ariss/ARISS.html

[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI 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,
JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM
K9JKM at amsat dot org


_______________________________________________
Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA
http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans
__________________________________________________________

73 de Sam, OH0NC

---
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 * Origin: Coming to you from the Sunny Aland Islands. (2:20/228)