AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-039

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 India Sponsors VO-52 Operating Certificate
* Volunteers Needed for AMSAT-DC Spring Conference
* George Caswell, W1ME Silent Key
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
* ARISS Status Report for the Week of February 2, 2009


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-039.01
AMSAT India Sponsors VO-52 Operating Certificate

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 039.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 8, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-039.01

Nitin, VU3TYG announced AMSAT India will issue a certificate for
Amateur Radio operators who establish two way contact thru VO-52
between January 26, 2009 until May 5, 2009.

The first fifty certificates have been sponsored by a well-wisher
which includes postage. After the 50 certificates have been issued
a fee will apply. AMSAT India will announce these details when the
information is available.

Please send your QSL card containing the details of the QSO on VO-52
AMSAT India at the following address:

AMSAT India (Regd.)
No. 201, 2nd Main Road,
Mahalakshmi Layout,
Bangalore 560086
India.

Also include your mailing address where you would like to have the
certificate sent to.

[ANS thanks Nitin, VU3TYG for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-039.02
Volunteers Needed for AMSAT-DC Spring Conference

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 039.02
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 8, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-039.02

Maryland-DC AMSAT Area Coordinator, Pat Kilroy, N8PK will kick off
planning sessions for the next AMSAT-DC gathering. If you would
like to help with this event please send Pat an RSVP e-mail soon
to . Pat will send you the call-in telephone number
for the planning conference calls.

Pat says, "Our first planning session conference call will take place
during the week of February 8-14, most likely on Thursday evening at
7:00 PM EST. The first agenda item will be to discuss the location
and date of the all-day event."

Pat is proposing individuals and groups of Amateur Radio operators
form teams who compete at this AMSAT-DC workshop to create and
operate a simulated satellite mission. The first groups will build a
PICetSat II flight module from a kit of electronic parts on a small
printed circuit board. The second groups will set up simple satellite
ground stations. The third groups will be in charge of setting up and
loading software in the computers at the ground stations to decode
the telemetry and to analyze it according to a set of instructions.

This event will be perfect for beginners and advanced satellite
users alike, all ultimately working together to "launch" the flight
module, receive the downlink, and decode the telemetry. Instructions
will be provided in advance of the event to enhance preparation.

More details will follow as planning commences!

[ANS thanks Pat Kilroy, N8PK for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-039.03
George Caswell, W1ME Silent Key

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 039.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 8, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-039.03

AMSAT received the sad news that George Caswell, W1ME died peace-
fully at the Maine Veterans Home on February 3rd after a lengthy
illness.

George was a very active AMSAT Area Coordinator in Northern New
England. For a number of years, George conducted a weekly AMSAT
net on a number of linked repeaters stretching from Rhode Island
to Maine (including one on top of Mt. Washington).

AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW reflected, "He brought
enthusiasm, knowledge and a sense of humor to these nets which
attracted check-ins. Needless to say, those 'wide area' nets
attracted numerous newcomers to what we do, not to mention gen-
erating countless new AMSAT memberships as a direct result. George
enjoyed awarding 'Certificates of Recognition' to those that
participated in these nets since he knew that 'wall paper' was
one way to foster continued interest. I still have the 'Certificate
of Recognition' signed by George in 1996 which he gave me when I
visited him and participated in one of his nets."

George served as a recruiter for AMSAT's Field Operations Team,
encouraging AMSAT members to become area coordinators and to
establish an AMSAT presence in their local areas. A number of
area coordinators in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire
and Maine were recruited and encouraged by George. He also repre-
sented AMSAT at various hamfests in Northern New England.

George and his wife Caroline, W1MRE brought AMSAT to Maine as
they teamed up to organize the 18th AMSAT Space Symposium that
was held in Portland, ME October, 2000. At this event people
outside of New England and the Field Ops team got to know George.

George set up and operated the first ISS school contact to take
place in Maine. In February, 2005, he set up his radio station at
the Rockland, ME high school as part of a PenBay radio club activity
and contacted the International Space Station, allowing high school
students to communicate with the astronauts aboard. It was one of
the highlights of his amateur radio involvement.

Barry sums it up, "For many of us, George Caswell, W1ME was the face
of AMSAT in New England. His kindness, gracious outlook on life,
infectious enthusiasm for satellite operations and amateur radio in
general touched many people and made a difference in their lives."

Donations in George's Memory may be made to:
Alzheimer's Association Maine Chapter 170 US Route 1, Suite 250
Falmouth, ME 04105.

[ANS thanks Barry Baines, WD4ASW for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-039.04
Satellite Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 039.04
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 8, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-039.04

+ YouTube video of the ARISS contact with Ellis Elementary School
in Belleville, Illinois, is available on-line at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2TuJ.../livingstlouis.

wordpress.com/2009/01/22/living-st-louis-video-ham-radio/&feature player_embedded (watch line wrap on very long URL).

+ Audio and video from the Humber College, Toronto contact with the
ISS is available at:
http://www.cbc.ca/radioshows/AS_IT_H...20090202.shtml (audio)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...RTGAM.20090202.
wvspacestation0202/VideoStory/Technology/home?pid=RTGAM.20090202.
wcollegeradio0202 (watch the line wrap).

+ Paul Willmott, VP9MU released an updated Reference Manual for the
General Astrodynamics Library (GAL) at:
http://homepage.mac.com/pclwillmott/GAL/index.html

+ Listen for Andy, W5ACM/MM between February 8 and February 14 via
AO-51. He hopes to put some new grids on the air while we are out
on the water between Galveston, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Roi Tan.
Radio will be a a DJ-580Ts with several LiPo battery packs.

+ A video tour of the Altair Lunar Lander is available at:
http://tinyurl.com/d5btqx (via UniverseToday).

+ NASA and Google announced the release of a new Mars mode in Google
Earth that brings to everyone's desktop a high-resolution, three-
dimensional view of the Red Planet. Additional information is on-
line at http://tinyurl.com/b567u9 (Via MarsDaily).

+ An interesting article about a planned 500 meter diameter radio
telescope in China is available on-line at: http://tinyurl.com/b8sv2k
In contrast the radio telescope at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico
is 305 meters in diameter (via UniverseToday).

[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-039.05
ARISS Status Report for the Week of February 2, 2009

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 039.05
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
February 8, 2009
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-039.05

1. School Contacts

Humber College Institute of Technology and Higher Learning in Toronto,
Ontario, Canada completed an ARISS contact on Monday, February 2. It
has assembled the primary ground station right on the main campus, and
it is hoped that it will inspire future students in conducting similar
studies.

Pilton Bluecoat Junior School in Barnstaple, Devon, England completed
an ARISS contact on Friday, February 6. The school has planned an event
with the theme "Our Home in Space - The Final Frontier," in which stu-
dents learn about Earth as part of the wider universe.

Städtisches Gymnasium Herzogenrath in Herzogenrath, North Rhine-West-
phalia, Germany completed an ARISS contact on Saturday, February 7. The
school has an amateur radio club whose members initiated the ARISS
contact.

College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University in Imphhal,
Assam, India has been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Sunday,
February 8 at 10:06 UTC via telebridge station VK4KHZ in Australia.

2. Russian Students Radio ISS

Students attending the Palace of Children's and Youth's Creativity
in Tver, Russia experienced a successful ARISS contact on Tuesday,
January 27. The children prepared 9 questions to ask cosmonaut Yuri
Lonchakov, RA3DT. Approximately 300 people attended the event including
cosmonaut S. Treshchev and ARISS delegate Sergey Samburov. The Governor
of Tver Region, Dmitry Vadimovich Zelenin was also invited. The contact
was made possible through the Amateur Radio Club, "Club-22," and its
chairman, Sergey Kemov, RA3IS.

3. Successful Canadian Elementary School Contact

On Tuesday, January 27, Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, participated in an ARISS
contact with students attending Castor Valley Elementary School in
Greely, Ontario, Canada. He answered all 16 questions posed to him by
the youth as an audience of 750 students, parents and guests looked
on. The students initiated the contact, thanked Mike for the contact
midway through the session, and finished the rest of the questions.
Media covered the event and the school was featured on the CTV 6
o'clock news.

4. French University Contact Successful

Students attending CERAM EAI in Sophia Antipolis, France participated
in an ARISS contact on Thursday, January 29 via telebridge station
VK4KHZ in Australia. Students were able to ask 15 questions of Mike
Fincke, KE5AIT, before interference made the downlink unreadable.
Approximately 50 students, faculty members and guests witnessed the
event which was covered by the media. The audio was fed into the
EchoLink AMSAT and JK1ZRW servers and received 11 connections from
9 different countries. A short write up and contact audio have been
posted to the ARISS-Europe Web site.
See: http://www.ariss-eu.org/2009_01_30.htm

5. French School Contact Successful

Youth attending Ecole & Collège Jean XXIII, a private primary &
secondary school in Pamiers, France, experienced an ARISS contact
on Friday, January 30. Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, answered 18 questions
prepared for him by the students as 150 people gathered to watch.
Media coverage included La Gazette Ariegeoise, Le Petit Journal,
France 3 and Ariege News. The event is also expected to be reported
by La Depeche du Midi, Radio Transparence, Radio Montaillou and Sud
Radio. A summary with audio has been posted to the ARISS-Europe Web
site. See: http://www.ariss-eu.org/2009_01_31.htm

6. General Radio Operations

Mike Fincke, KE5AIT and Yuri Lonchakov, RA3DT made general voice
contacts over the last week. Among those contacted were stations
in the U.S., Canada, Russia and Brazil. They also had the radio
running in packet mode and crossband repeater mode and transmitted
several Slow Scan Television (SSTV) images.

7. ARISS International Team Meeting Held

The ARISS team held its monthly teleconference on January 27. Among
the agenda items discussed were the ARISS Face to Face Meeting to be
held in the Netherlands in June, Richard Garriott's mission and
SuitSat-2 status. Minutes have been posted. See:
https://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2009-01-27.htm

8. K6DUE Replaces NN1SS

K6DUE, callsign of the late Roy Neal, will now be used for the Inter-
national Space Station Amateur Radio Club, replacing the Greenbelt,
Maryland telebridge ground station callsign, NN1SS. Neal was instrum-
ental in persuading NASA to fly amateur radio on the space shuttle
and helped establish the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX)
working group, which ultimately led to the internationally-based
ARISS program. The story was reported on the Amateur Radio Newsline.

[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. With that keep
in mind if you show me a piano falling down a mine shaft I'll show you
A-flat miner.


73,
This week's ANS Editor,
JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM