AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-291

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.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/133459636698/list.admin/aus-city.com/ 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:

* URGENT - AO-85 Operational Update
* Joe Kornowski K9JMK Named AMSAT Journal Editor
* Help AMSAT Launch FOX-1Cliff and FOX-1D Satellite in 2015
* AMSAT Elects Senior Officer
* SAREX Reflector to be Closed 1 November 2015
* Amateur Radio – a hobby for the 21st century
* Special Membership Offer for Fox-1A Launch
* ARISS-US Contact Proposals Accepted Through November 1
* NASA awards launch services contracts for CubeSat satellites
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts From All Over


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-291
ANS-291 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 291
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
October 18, 2015
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-291


URGENT - AO-85 Operational Update

After our successful launch on October 8, AO-85 has been chiefly in
transponder mode and available to users. While this operational plan
resulted in increased data for AMSAT engineering evaluation, we have
some necessary tests to complete that require limiting access for a
short period. We will be characterizing the uplink and downlink
signals, and developing an updated set of recommendations for minimal
equipment and best operating practices.

For the week of October 19 to 23, AO-85 will be unavailable while
this testing and evaluation is complete. Please avoid transmitting to
the satellite even if you hear the transponder on. Users are
encouraged to collect and forward telemetry via the FoxTelem program.
Please share this information to other operators as needed.
Cooperation will expedite this testing and the return to normal
operations.

[ANS thanks Drew KO4MA for the above informatioin]


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Joe Kornowski K9JMK Named AMSAT Journal Editor

During the 2015 AMSAT Annual Meeting held in Dayton, Ohio, AMSAT
President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, announced the appointment of Joe
Kornowski, KB6IGK as the Editor of The AMSAT Journal beginning with
the November/December 2015 issue, filling the position previously
held by JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM, who had to resign for personal
reasons. Joe has served as an Assistant Editor since 2014 and has
several years of professional experience in writing, editing, and
content creation in various fields, including law and legal
publishing, technology, health and wellness, and creative/media.

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]


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Help AMSAT Launch FOX-1Cliff and FOX-1D Satellite in 2015

For a $1,000.00 donation, AMSAT will provide you, after launch, with
a clear solar panel protective cover actually used on Fox-1 Cliff or
FOX-1D. The cover will be mounted on a plaque, and engraved with your
name, callsign and date of launch. Quantities are limited.

The plaque will make an excellent display in your office or shack
for you to show off your pride in helping AMSAT launch Fox-1 Cliff!

To donate and claim your panel visit
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/579668679593/list.admin/aus-city.com/

Similar plaques from FOX-1A were recently presented to their donors
during the AMSAT Space Symposium in Dayton.

[ANS thanks Barry WD4ASW for the above information]


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AMSAT Elects Senior Officer

Election of AMSAT's Senior Officers was one of the first orders of
business to be settled once the AMSAT Board of Directors meeting
opened on October 15, prior to the start of the 2015 AMSAT Space
Symposium held in Dayton, Ohio.

The following positions were voted upon and filled:

Barry Baines, WD4ASW President
Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA Vice-President Operations
Jerry Buxton, N0JY Vice-President Engineering
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO Vice-President Human Spaceflight
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Secretary
Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF Treasurer
Martha Saragovitz Manager

The following Senior Officer positions remained open at this time
awaiting appointments:
Executive Vice President
Vice-President User Services
Vice-President Marketing

The AMSAT Board of Directors for 2016 consists of:

Barry Baines, WD4ASW
Tom Clark, K3IO
JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM
Lou McFadin, W5DID
Jerry Buxton, N0JY
Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
Bob McGwier, N4HY
Mark Hammond, N8MH (First Alternate)
Bruce Paige, KK5DO (Second Alternate)

[ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information]


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SAREX Reflector to be Closed 1 November 2015

At the request of the ARISS US Team, AMSAT-NA Vice President for
Human Spaceflight Frank Bauer, KA3HDO has announced that the SAREX
reflector will be closed 1 November 2015, and its functions folded
into the AMSAT-BB list. Frank explained that at one time operations
from the Space Shuttle and the ISS were considered as sufficiently
different from other satellite operations as to need separate forums
for their respective interest communities. More recently, changes in
the human spaceflight operations, the new generation of satellites,
and the interests of the general AMSAT community have removed the
reasons for this distinction.

What does this mean to the current subscribers? If you are
subscribed to both SAREX and AMSAT-BB, there is no need to take any
action. You will cease to receive new postings on the SAREX list 1
November 2015, which will now be made on AMSAT-BB. The SAREX archives
will continue to be available for historical purposes. If you are not
subscribed to AMSAT-BB and wish to continue to receive human
spaceflight announcements, please go to
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/513938153703/list.admin/aus-city.com/ and subscribe to AMSAT-BB. Your
existing SAREX subscription will not be automatically carried over
since not everyone will wish to do so.

[ANS thanks Alan WA4SCA for the above information]


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Amateur Radio – a hobby for the 21st century

The RSGB has launched a new amateur radio promotional video on their
YouTube channel.

The video was produced in conjunction with TX Factor and has
generated lots of positive comment since it was first shown publicly
at the RSGB Convention on October 10.

One person commented “the video is really good, hardly an oldie to
be seen !!”

The amateur satellite service features prominently in the video,
Peter Goodhall 2E0SQL is shown working the amateur satellites and
astronaut Doug Wheelock KF5BOC puts in an appearance from on-board
the International Space Station.

Among those spotted in the video were amateurs from the Silcoates
School, Camb Hams and Essex Ham.

Watch the video at
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/862383795725/list.admin/aus-city.com/

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]


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Special Membership Offer for Fox-1A Launch

AMSAT’s Fox-1A , AO-85 was launched as part of the GRACE (Government
Rideshare Advanced Concepts Experiment) auxillary payload on the NROL-
55 mission October 8, 2015 from Vandenburg AFB on an Atlas V vehicle.
NRO has released this factsheet about the mission:
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/287981377599/list.admin/aus-city.com/

General information on Fox-1A is available in the downloadable AMSAT
Fox Operating Guide.
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/805695907760/list.admin/aus-city.com/

FoxTelem software for decoding and submitting telemetry has been
made available for download at
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/914351657638/list.admin/aus-city.com/ .

As part of the celebration for the launch and activation of this
new satellite, AMSAT is making our “Getting Started With The Amateur
Satellites” book available for a limited time as a download with any
paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This
offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only
a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated
every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the
premier primer of satellite operation. The 132 page book is presented
in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your
first contacts on a ham radio satellite.

Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/169773427493/list.admin/aus-city.com/
and selecting any membership option. While there, check out our
other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, AMSAT shirts,
hats, and other swag. Thank you, and see you soon on Fox-1A!

[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, Vice-President Operations for
the above information]


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ARISS-US Contact Proposals Accepted Through November 1

Message to US Educators
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
Contact Opportunity
Call for Proposals
Proposal Window September 1 – November 1, 2015

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program
is seeking formal and informal education institutions and
organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur
Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates
that the contact would be held between July 1 and December 31, 2016.
Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact
dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is
looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of
participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed
education plan.

The deadline to submit a proposal is November 1, 2015. Proposal
information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-
ariss-contact.

The next and last of these will be offered Wednesday, September 30,
at 2300 UTC.

Advance registration is necessary. E-mail ARISS (ariss@arrl.org) to
sign up for an information session.

The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate
in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are
approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students and educators
to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.

An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via
Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space
station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford
education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from
astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn
about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an
opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless
technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human
spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the
ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate
changes in contact dates and times.

Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space
agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational
opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to
enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students
around the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed
by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American
Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA.

More Information
Interested parties can find more information about the program at
www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS.

For proposal information and more details such as expectations,
proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of
Information Sessions go to http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/089387953039/list.admin/aus-city.com/
contact. Please direct any questions to ariss@arrl.org

[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information]


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NASA awards launch services contracts for CubeSat satellites

NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP) has awarded multiple Venture
Class Launch Services (VCLS) contracts to provide small satellites
(SmallSats) - also called CubeSats, microsats or nanosatellites -
access to low-Earth orbit.

The three companies selected to provide these new commercial launch
capabilities, and the value of their firm fixed-price contracts, are:
Firefly Space Systems Inc. of Cedar Park, Texas, $5.5 million; Rocket
Lab USA Inc. of Los Angeles, $6.9 million; Virgin Galactic LLC of
Long Beach, California, $4.7 million.

At present, launch opportunities for small satellites and science
missions mostly are limited to rideshare-type arrangements, flying
only when space is available on NASA and other launches. The services
acquired through these new contract awards will constitute the
smallest class of launch services used by NASA.

"LSP is attempting to foster commercial launch services dedicated to
transporting smaller payloads into orbit as an alternative to the
rideshare approach and to promote the continued development of the
U.S. commercial space transportation industry," said Jim Norman,
director of Launch Services at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "VCLS
is intended to help open the door for future dedicated opportunities
to launch CubeSats and other small satellites and science missions."

Small satellites, including CubeSats, are playing an increasingly
larger role in exploration, technology demonstration, scientific
research and educational investigations at NASA. These miniature
satellites provide a low-cost platform for NASA missions, including
planetary space exploration; Earth observations; fundamental Earth
and space science; and developing precursor science instruments like
cutting-edge laser communications, satellite-to-satellite
communications and autonomous movement capabilities.

LSP supports the agency's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) by
providing launch opportunities for more than 50 CubeSats that are
awaiting launch during the next three years. The VCLS contracts will
demonstrate a dedicated launch capability for smaller payloads that
NASA anticipates it will require on a recurring basis for future
science SmallSat and CubeSat missions.

Small satellites already are used to provide imagery collection for
monitoring, analysis and disaster response. In the future, CubeSat
capabilities could include ship and aircraft tracking, improved
weather prediction, and the provision of broader Internet coverage.

The Earth Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in
Washington has partnered with LSP to fund the VCLS contracts. These
VCLS launches of small satellites are able to tolerate a higher level
of risk than larger missions and will demonstrate, and help mitigate
risks associated with, the use of small launch vehicles providing
dedicated access to space for future small spacecraft and missions.

"Emerging small launch vehicles have great potential to expand the
use of small satellites as integral components of NASA's Earth
science orbital portfolio," said Michael Freilich, director of NASA's
Earth Science Division.

"Today's CubeSat technology fosters hands-on engineering and flight
research training; with the addition of reliable, affordable, and
dedicated access to space on small launchers, constellations of
SmallSats and CubeSats could revolutionize our science-based
spaceborne Earth-observing systems and capabilities. We're eager to
work with the VCLS providers as they develop new launch capabilities
for the Earth science community."

[ANS thanks Space Daily for the above information]


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ARISS News

A Successful contact was made between Bay View Elementary School,
Burlington, WA, USA and Astronaut Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS using
Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2015-10-14 19:41 UTC and lasted
about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via IK1SLD.
ARISS Mentor was K4SQC.

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-10-15 07:30 UTC

Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:

Saku Children’s Science Dome for the Future, Saku City, Japan,
direct via 8NØSDF The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be
NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kimiya Yui KG5BPH
Contact is a go for: Thu 2015-10-22 09:47:21 UTC 62 deg

West Michigan Aviation Academy, Grand Rapids, MI, direct via W8ISS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS
Contact is a go for: Thu 2015-10-22 17:10:02 UTC 36 deg

[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above
information]


[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N information]


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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ 2016 Colloqium Dates Set

The dates for the next Colloquium have now been confirmed as Fri
29 Jul to Sun 31 July 2016. It will be held in the same location as
in 2015, ie the Holiday Inn, Guildford, UK

[ANS thanks Jim G3WGM for the above information]

+ Eimac Moonbounce Notes collection

Way back in 1980 when I first got interested in amateur satellites
and AMSAT, I wrote off to Eimac Corporation for their "Moonbounce
Notes" collection.

While on a household paper eradication campaign I came across them
and scanned them. I thought others might enjoy a look back at some
bleeding-edge ham activities from the mid-late 1970s. It's
particularly amusing to see how much effort was spent just tracking
the moon with the technology then available.

http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/452157038079/list.admin/aus-city.com/

This is a raw collection of pdf files, but the file names are pretty
descriptive. Collect the entire set!

If anybody has any notes missing from my collection, please let me
know.

[ANS thanks Phil KA9Q for the above information

+ Space Diary: Fire up your imagination!

Fire up your imagination and get ready for launch

Lucy Hawking and Curved House Kids launch a STEM literacy project
to get 500 primary schools involved in Tim’s mission to the ISS. As
Tim lifts off in December, school students will follow his mission
by creating a personalised log book, the Principia Mission Space
Book.

Each month a video will be released from amazing space crew
including Dallas Campbell, Stephen Hawking, Richard Garriott and
Lucy Hawking.

To learn more visit http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/414407154105/list.admin/aus-city.com/

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]


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/EX


David Cottle

UBB Owner & Administrator