AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-258

************************************************** ************
*** 2008 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting ***
*** October 24-26 in Atlanta, Georgia ***
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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:




In this edition:
* AMSAT Board of Directors to Conduct Presidential Search
* Worldwide Amateur Radio Effort Saves COMPASS Cubesat
* College Satellite Nite - 18 September 2008
* AO-51 Schedule - September 2008
* ARISS Status - 18 August 2008

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.01
AMSAT Board of Directors to Conduct Presidential Search

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 14, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-258.01

AMSAT President Rick Hambly, W2GPS notified the AMSAT Board of
Directors on Thursday, September 11 that he is not a candidate for
President of AMSAT for the upcoming year. "After careful consideration,
I
have
decided that I am not able to continue as AMSAT President beyond the
next
Board
meeting and so I will not offer my name for consideration, and if
nominated
by
others I will not accept the nomination for
President. While I will be focusing
most of my efforts on business activities, I will do my best to make the
transition seamless", stated Rick in an e-mail to the current members of
the
AMSAT Board of Directors. Rick has served as President of AMSAT since
October
2004.

The current Board of Directors election concludes on Monday, September
15, when results of the balloting will be announced. Members of the
new Board will then begin a formal search process to recruit and
select a new President. This process is expected to take several
weeks with the goal of having a new President identified prior to the
AMSAT Board of Directors meeting on October 23, prior to the AMSAT
Symposium in Atlanta. The search process starts immediately with an
invitation to current AMSAT members (including BOD members, Senior
Advisors, Officers, and the AMSAT general membership) to suggest
current AMSAT members that they would recommend for consideration.
Recommendations are requested by 1900 EDT Tuesday evening, September
16 to the AMSAT Corporate Secretary (Barry Baines, WD4ASW; e-mail:
). Names that are submitted will be initially reviewed
by
the
BOD and those candidates that the Board would like to follow up with
will be
contacted concerning the interview/selection process.

Rick Hambly, W2GPS will continue to fulfill his duties as President
until the Board meeting in October. His current term on the Board of
Directors expires in September 2009.

[ANS thanks the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.02
Worldwide Amateur Radio Effort Saves COMPASS Cubesat

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.02
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 14, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-258.02

Mike, DK3WN said this week that a worldwide amateur radio effort
saved the COMPASS cubesat. Mike reports receiving reports of
good COMPASS beacons from Japan. The COMPASS cubesat has not reset
over several eclipse periods and remains operational.

The problem that depleted the batteries aboard COMPASS had its
heater remain on constantly. Amateur radio stations around the
world successfully transmitted the command to turn off the heater
and allowed the batteries to recover.

After the heater was turned off Mike wrote, "The only thing we can
do is WAIT. Wait for longer sun periods and voltages over 3.47 Volts.
That's the standard threshold value in emergency mode to switch into
powersafe mode. Only in this mode we can change the threshold values.
As of September 8, COMPASS was back in its powersafe mode of oper-
ation.

As of September 10 COMPASS was back in NORMAL mode. Mike had gained
control of the satellite and could successfully command the satellite.

Mike summarized, "Thanks to all - this is truly a worldwide ham radio
effort - thanks so much for your help. Also, PLEASE do NOT send any
commands to COMPASS until further notice. If you send any commands
you overwrite the current settings and COMPASS may fall back into
emergency mode. We almost lost a cubesat, but we've definitely gained
some new friends. Thank you all for your efforts!"

Meanwhile please listen to the beacon and keep your fingers crossed
that COMPASS will remain in its normal mode.

[ANS thanks Mike, DK3WN, for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.03
College Satellite Nite - 18 September 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 14, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-258.03

A college Satellite night will be held Thursday, September 18, 2008
(local
time). This event is a great opportunity for hams that are satellite
active
to interact with college students and elmer a new generation! Do you
know a
college student who would find amateur satellites interesting and
intellectually challenging? Have them as a guest at your station and
introduce them to amateur radio in a way they will never forget.

Look for college stations and students on all the birds that evening and
please give them preference for operation. With the new school year just
starting, new student guests and thus potential young hams will be
present
in college shacks around the country. They look forward to meeting you
through the exciting venue of Orbiting Satellites carrying Amateur
Radio!

73, Hope to see you on the birds!
Dr. Jay Garlitz, AA4FL

[ANS thanks Jay, AA4FL, for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.04
AO-51 Schedule - September 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.04
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 14, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-258.04

September 8 - September 14

FM Repeater, L/S
Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM
Downlink: 2401.200 MHz FM

FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM


September 15 - September 21
College Radio Night is September 18!

FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM

9k6 BBS and Telemetry
Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM


September 22 - September 24

FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink: 145.920 Mhz FM
Downlink: 435.300 Mhz FM

FM Repeater, L/U
Uplink: 1268.700 Mhz USB
Downlink: 435.150 Mhz FM


September 25 - September 28

FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink: 145.920 Mhz FM
Downlink: 435.300 Mhz FM

FM Repeater, L/U
Uplink: 1268.700 Mhz FM
Downlink: 435.150 Mhz FM


September 29 - October 5

FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM

9k6 BBS and Telemetry
Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM

[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.05
ARISS Status - 8 September 2008

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.05
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 14, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-258.05

1. Successful Contact with Challenger Learning Center

On Monday, September 1, ten students visiting the Challenger Learning
Center
of
Lucas County in Oregon, Ohio participated in an Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) contact. The
students posed ten questions to
Greg Chamitoff, KD5PKZ, in front of an audience of 80. News 24 TV was
present
and interviewed the students. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT
server
and IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project) Reflector 9010.


2. NZZ Article on Swiss Contact

On Saturday, August 30, students attending Schulehaus Feld 1 in
Richterswil,
Switzerland participated in a successful Amateur Radio on the
International
Space Station (ARISS) contact. Neue Zürcher Zeitung NZZ posted an
article
(in
German) on the contact. See:
http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/zueric...der_raumstatio
n_i
ss_1
..820665.html


3. ARISS Presentations Posted

On Thursday, August 28, an Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station
(ARISS) member gave a talk to Rockwell Collins
Amateur Radio Club in Richardson,
Texas. His talk covered Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT)
satellites
and ARISS projects. The presentation has been posted to the AMSAT Web
site.
See:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/Pre...or%20RCARC.ppt

The ARISS presentation given at the Challenger
Learning Center (CLC) Lead Flight
Directors Conference on August 27 has also been posted. See:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/Pre...er%20National%
20Convention%202008.ppt

[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,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS