AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-280

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:


******************* AMSAT 2007 Space Symposium *************************

The Wireless Association of South Hills Amateur Radio Club announces the
2007 AMSAT Space Symposium will be held at the Pittsburgh Airport
Marriott Hotel on Friday, October 26 through Sunday, October 28, 2007.
The AMSAT web team has posted informational pages on the AMSAT web site.
You can find the announcement with many links at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2007/index.php

************************************************** ***********************
*

In this edition:

* 2007 AMSAT Space Symposium Features and Events Announced
* Sputnik-1 50th Anniversary Special Event Via AO-51
* AO-51 Includes Special L/U BBS and Telemetry Experiment
* Three Packet Satellites Available on 145.825 MHz
* F8ZS Silent Key
* ARISS Status Report for the week of October 1, 2007

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-280.01
2007 AMSAT Space Symposium Features and Events Announced

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 280.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 7, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-280.01

Make plans now to attend the AMSAT-NA 2007 Space Symposium! Amateur
Radio Satellite Operators will find the AMSAT Space Symposium to be
an exciting and rewarding event-filled weekend. Here are some of the
features and events to look forward to:

+ AMSAT-NA Annual General Meeting
+ AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Meeting
+ AMSAT Directors and Officers will be available to answer
your questions
+ AMSAT Annual Banquet with Keynote Speaker
+ Technical forums focusing on the latest planning and technology of
Amateur Radio in Space
+ All Papers and Presentations will be published in the Symposium
Proceedings for all registered attendees
+ Technical demonstrations of prototype flight hardware and software
for AMSAT Eagle - the next generation in space
+ Discussions and demonstrations of SuitSat-2, ARISS, solid state
RF power amp, antennas, AO-51
+ Update on AMSAT's new Maryland Lab
+ AMSAT Area Coordinators' Breakfast and Meeting on Sunday Morning
+ IARU Satellite Forum
+ President's Club Reception
+ Satellite Beginner's Session: Introduction to Satellites
+ An operating satellite station capable of working AO-7, FO-29,
AO-27, SO-50, AO-51 and VO-52
+ N2SPI satellite antenna demonstrations and antenna construction
with students
+ Meet and greet old friends and make new friends
+ Enjoy eyeball QSOs with satellite designers, builders, and operators
from around the world
+ Sunday afternoon tour to the WPXI-DT Digital Studio

The AMSAT Software Defined Transponder Team is working toward having
an operational VHF - UHF transponder available for the entire weekend.
Eagle Project Team members will be available to answer your questions
and provide demonstrations.

New to the Symposium this year is a selection of apparel that may be
ordered. We have Symposium themed golf shirts, tee shirts, key rings
ball caps. A percentage of these sales will go to Eagle.

For those people who would rather not register for the Meeting through
the AMSAT store, you can register via phone by calling 301-589-6062.

[ANS thanks 2007 AMSAT Space Symposium Co-chairs Kevin N3HKQ,
and Pat KC4WTT for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-280.02
Sputnik-1 50th Anniversary Special Event Via AO-51

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 280.02
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 7, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-280.02

This week AMSAT hosted a Special Event on Wednesday night when AO-51
was used to retransmit the original Sputnik-1 telemetry in commemoration
of Sputnik's 50th birthday.

AMSAT-NA Vice President of Operations, Drew KO4MA, summarized the event,
"I just wanted to thank everyone for what looks like a well received
special event. Special thanks to our participating uplink stations:

+ VE3NPC, Clare
+ N8BBQ, Ed
+ KD8CAO, Doug
+ WA6FWF, Kevin
+ K7WIN, Jeff
+ G1OCN, Dave
+ IW4DTU, Fer
+ Our chief AO-51 Command Op, WA4SXM, Gould,
+ and Drew's wife Merete for compiling and equalizing the audio."

Send a report to Kevin, WA6FWF at his callbook address with a 9x12
SASE and you will receive a nice QSL certificate.

Comments were received from many stations after the Sputnik passes:

"Great idea and very nice delivery! Enjoyed it very much on the the
first active pass of AO-51 tonight." - VE4NSA

"Wonderfully loud and clear in DM-13 Southern California.
MANY THANKS." - K6LCS

"Clear copy of AO-51 message and Sputnik transmission at 0001 UTC
from my balcony with a three element hand held UHF antenna." - VE3VIG

"It was great! My 8 year-old and 5 year-old boys listened with awe in
their eyes as the bird came into view. I've been trying to spark their
interest for years, and this may have done the trick!" - N8AU

"Tonight was truly fantastic and historic. My thanks to all for the
hard work they undoubtedly put into this night." - KB2HSH

"I would like to add my thanks for a superb event. I copied most of
the last two passes over NA on my IC R-20 and recorded the audio.
This will be used along with Visual Sightings of the ISS and con-
struction of 1/4 scale models of Sputnik (6" Styrofoam Ball and Wood
Dowels) for a Sputnik 50th Birthday Party with 39 Elementary School
Kids." - W5IU

"Midway into our Ottawa Amateur Radio Club executive meeting, we all
took a break out to the street to have a listen to the rebroadcast
of Sputnik-1 with an arrow and HT. Present were VE3TLY, VA3PAX, VE3FFK,
VE3ZTU, VE3IGJ and VA3DB." - VA3DB

[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA and everyone else for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-280.03
AO-51 Includes Special L/U BBS and Telemetry Experiment

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 280.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 7, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-280.03

The AO-51 Operations Team says AO-51 will include a special test mode
featuring experimental L/U BBS and Telemetry during the periode between
October 4 through October 14

FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, No PL Tone
Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM

9k6 Digital, L/U, BBS and Telemetry, Experimental and subject to change!

Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital

The AO-51 Operations Team is interested in your BBS results during
this
experimental period. Please send your comments about the BBS mode
to:


[ANS thanks the AO-51 Operations Team for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-280.04
Three Packet Satellites Available on 145.825 MHz

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 280.04
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 7, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-280.04

Bob, WB4APR reminds satellite packet operators of the opportunity
of up to 25 passes per day for 2-way keyboard communications with
simple packet equipment on 145.825 MHz uplink and downlink.

The 145.825 MHz frequency includes ARISS aboard the ISS, ANDE and
PCSAT-1 operating at 1200 baud. Recently GO-32 became available on
435.225 MHz for 9600 baud communications

APRS Igate Packet gateway stations copying these three packet
digipeater satellites on 145.825 feed to the two web pages:

http://www.ariss.net
http://pcsat.aprs.org

For additional information regarding the GO-32 435.225 MHz 9600 baud
operation see: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/GO32-ops.html

[ANS thanks Bob, WB4APR for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-280.05
F8ZS Silent Key

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 280.05
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 7, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-280.05

It is with sadness that I must inform our AMSAT colleagues,
of the passing away of Jean Edmond Gruau F8ZS, President of
Radio Amateur Club de l'Espace and Honorary President of
AMSAT-France.

Jean was the father of ARSENE radioamateur mini satellite,
launched in May, 1993.

He retired a few years ago from his position as Inspecteur
General of the french space agency (CNES) that he contributed
to create as well as the European Space Center in Kourou,
french Guyana.

Jean F8ZS was a very kind man with always a lot of good stories
to tell to his visiting friends about his large experience in
radio transmissions and preventive failure security in space
industry.

73 de Bernard, F6BVP
AMSAT France founding President

[ANS thanks Bernard, F6BVP for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-280.06
ARISS Status Report for the week of October 1, 2007

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 280.06
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 7, 2007
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-280.06

1. Heidelberg University Contact Successful

On Monday, September 25, students from Heidelberg University for
Applied Sciences in Germany experienced an ARISS contact via the
telebridge station WH6PN in Hawaii. Clay Anderson, KD5PLA, answered
one question from each of twenty students, as 200 youth gathered in
the radio shack.

2. ARISS Contact Achieved with Texas School

An ARISS contact between students at the Art and Pat Goforth Ele-
mentary School in League City, Texas and Clay Anderson, KD5PLA,
aboard the ISS took place on Wednesday, September 26 via the tele-
bridge station WH6PN in Hawaii. Approximately 50 students, teachers
and parents gathered in the school’s amphitheater as Anderson
fielded 25 questions put to him by 13 students, the first question
asked by his daughter.

3. Smithsonian – ARISS Contact

On Saturday, September 29, youth visiting the Smithsonian National
Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. participated in an ARISS
contact as part of its Family Day, “Commemorating 50 Years in
Space.”
The telebridge station WH6PN in Hawaii assisted in the contact.
Gathered in the Space Race gallery, five children had 25 questions
answered by Clay Anderson, KD5PLA. The Radio Amateur Satellite Cor-
poration (AMSAT) and ARISS booths were set up near the main entrance
and generated much interest. Many local amateur radio operators
attended to help out. Approximately 15,000 - 20,000 visitors were
expected to attend the event throughout the day.

4. School Contacts

An ARISS contact was held for the Town of Anamizu ARISS School
Contact Executive Committee in Anamizu-town, Housu-gun Ishikawa,
Japan on Saturday, October 6. Six hundred students from seven
elementary and junior high schools will participate in this event.
Conversational English, computers, amateur radio and the Inter-
national Space Station are the subject matters studied in preparation
for this event. Because this wass the first ARISS contact within
the prefecture of Ishikawa, all preparations leading up to and
including the contact were covered in the media.

Prairielands Council, Boy Scouts of America in Champaign, Illinois
held an ARISS contact on Saturday, October 6 via the telebridge
station VK4KHZ in Australia. Prairielands Council is made up of
three districts supporting Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in Central
Eastern Illinois and Central Western Indiana. The Prairielands
Council has created a new event, the Space Jamboree. Scouts
attending will work on the Space Exploration Merit Badge require-
ments which include designing Mars missions and constructing Moon
base models. They will design and launch water rockets and become
familiar with robotic technology. Segway of Chicago will assist
in robotics education and the FIRST program regional director
will bring robots to this first annual Space Jamboree. The local
rocket club will be providing rocket launches throughout the event,
two during the outdoor viewing of the movie "October Sky." The
youth are also expected to complete many of the Radio Merit Badge
requirements.

An ARISS contact has been scheduled for Isummasaqvik School in Quaqtaq,
Quebec, Canada on Wednesday, October 10 at 18:31 UTC. The telebridge
station ON4ISS in Belgium will assist in the contact. Approximately 100
students, from Kindergarten through high school levels, attend Isumma-
saqvik School. The school plans to hold a contest to create a mission
patch to be worn on T-shirts by everyone participating in the contact.
All classes will participate in space related projects which will be
displayed in the school gym on the day of the contact.

5. ARISS International Meeting Held

An ARISS teleconference was held on Tuesday, September 25. Topics of
discussion included a new telebridge station, status of the Columbus
Module antennas and SuitSat-2. The minutes have been posted to the
ARISS web site. See: http://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2007-09-25.htm

6. Astronaut Training Status

Astronaut Michael Barratt, KD5MIJ, participated in a simulated ARISS
school contact during a training session held the last week of
September.
Barratt is the backup for Michael Fincke on Expedition 18.

[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