AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-268

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:

* Invitation to Participate in the ARISSat-1/KEDR Operations Survey
* Frank Bauer, KA3HDO Retires From NASA After 36 Years
* AO-51 to support 54th Jamboree On The Air October 15-16, 2011
* Symposium Reminders!
* Portable Satellite Operations Qualify for Reverse-VUCC Award
* Mobile Satellite Operation From Island of Skye On-The-Air Now
* AMSAT Member N8MS in Newspaper Feature With Students
* Special Event NW2C 911 Portable Satellite Station Video Posted
* Satellite Shorts From All Over


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.01
Invitation to Participate in the ARISSat-1/KEDR Operations Survey

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-268.01

Steven Bible, N7HPR says that the ARISSat-1 Team has put together a
survey on ARISSat-1 operations. Please take a few minutes to answer
the questions at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/arissat1-operation.
The survey results will be posted to the Official ARISSat-1 website:
http://www.arissat1.org.

Meanwhile, Alan Biddle says the ARISSat-1/KEDR Team is still looking
for entries in the Chicken Little Contest. This involves your prognos-
tications/calculations/guesses/darts-in-the-calendar submissions for
when ARRISSat-1/KEDR makes its final orbit. We have a fair number of
submissions from all over the world from adults, but very few from
students. If you know of one who might be interested, encourage them
to enter. The details are he
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/ARISSat/ARISSatContest

While it is not going to receive the coverage of UARS, the closest
submissions in each category will be recognized. Right now, the
deadline is the 15th of October, though since ARISSat-1 is "floating
like a butterfly" that MIGHT get extended.

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.02
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO Retires From NASA After 36 Years

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.02
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-268.02

After an illustrious 36 year career with NASA, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO,
has retired from the agency.

In his farewell note to his colleagues, Bauer said that for someone
who dreamed about space exploration as a very young child and start-
ed at NASA when the Apollo program was in its twilight, it has been
truly a pleasure to spend over 3 decades developing and operating
systems as part of the NASA team. Bauer said that he has had what he
called a phenomenal time contributing to countless Human and Robotic
spacflight missions, flight tests, technology experiments, pioneering
systems, studies, formulations and on-orbit operations activities as
well as numerous agency-level, U.S. Government and international
strategies and initiatives.

In addition to his job with NASA, KA3HDO, had a parallel volunteer
career as one of the leaders of the manned Amateur Radio in Space
program. Among his many achievements was taking manned ham radio
operations on-orbit from the now retired space shuttles under the
SAREX operation over to the International Space Station and into
the ARISS program.

Bauer, who stepped down from ARISS and AMSAT duties in March of
2009, had served as ARISS Program Leader and ARISS International
Working Group Chair. Since 1991, he had also held the title of
AMSAT Vice President for Human Spaceflight Programs.

In May of 2009 Bauer was presented with the ARRL President's Award
for his many contributions to ham radio's part of mans exploration
of space.

[ANS thanks the Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1780 - September 23 2011
for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.03
AO-51 to support 54th Jamboree On The Air October 15-16, 2011

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-268.03

The AO-51 Command Team is happy to announce support of the Scouting
Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) during the weekend Oct. 15-16, 2011. The
AO-51 satellite will remain in its current configuration, with an
understanding that contacts involving Scouts will be given first
priority during this period.

The current operating mode of AO-51 is as follows:

Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM (No PL tone)
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM

The World Scouting Organization in Switzerland posted JOTA informa-
tion on their web: http://tinyurl.com/3rfp2cn (www.scout.org) and
http://scout.org/information_events/...54th_jota_2011

Also, visit the World Scouting Radio Library at:
http://tinyurl.com/5sz7tf5 (www.scout.org)

The Boy Scouts of America has several resources on-line for amateur
radio stations participating in JOTA: http://tinyurl.com/6d93qb7
(Boy Scouts of America www.scouting.org)

[ANS thanks the Scouting Movement and AO-51 Command Team for the
above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.04
Symposium Reminders!

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.04
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-268.04

2011 AMSAT Space Symposium Papers Deadline Approaches
-----------------------------------------------------
Your papers for the 2011 AMSAT Space Symposium are due by October 1
for inclusion in the printed proceedings. Yes, that's just a couple
of weeks from now! Papers should be sent to Dan Schultz, N8FGV, at:
.

Symposium Registration is Now Open
----------------------------------
The 2011 AMSAT Space Symposium will be held on Friday, November 4th
through Sunday, November 6th in San Jose, CA. Our annual gathering
will featu

+ Space Symposium with Amateur Satellite Presentations
+ Operating Techniques, News, & Plans from the Amateur Satellite World
+ Board of Directors Meeting open to AMSAT members (Nov. 3-4)
+ Meet Board Members and Officers
+ Annual General Membership Meeting
+ Annual Banquet-Keynote Speaker and Door Prizes

The 2011 Symposium hotel and registration web pages are now available
on the AMSAT web site. You may register for the Symposium and Annual
Banquet at the AMSAT Sto
http://www.amsat-na.com/store/SymposiumReg.php

Visit the Symposium and Annual General Meeting web page for details
and the latest information:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2011/index.php

Symposium Registration including a copy of the Proceedings is:
+ $50 per person starting September 20, 2011
+ $55 per person at the door

The Saturday evening banquet is $45 per person. The Sunday morning
Area Coordinator's Breakfast is $15 per person.

Hotel information for the Wyndham San Jose is posted at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2011/Hotel.php

Martha at the AMSAT Office (Phone: 301-589-6062) is available to
be of assistance with any hotel questions or problems with your
registration.

[ANS thanks the 2011 Symposium Committee for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.05
Portable Satellite Operations Qualify for Reverse-VUCC Award

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.05
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-268.05

The Central States VHF Society has updated their website to reflect
applications for VUCC-r, Reverse VUCC.

This award is given to those who have operated via satellites in more
than 100 grids away from their home grid.

The rules require that applicants submit proof of contacts made from
these away from home grids. So if you work someone signing "portable"
(meaning they are operating away from home), please remember to in-
clude your grid as well as the grid they were operating from on your
QSL. You can read all the details on-line at:
http://www.csvhfs.org/vuccdesc.html

There are now four operators who have achieved VUCC-r distinction:
N7SFI-200 grids, N5AFV-109 grids, ND9M-325 grids, and KD4ZGW-100 grids.

[ANS thanks John, K8YSE and CSVHFS for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.06
Mobile Satellite Operation From Island of Skye On-The-Air Now

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.06
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-268.06

Paul, 2E1EUB will be active on satellites as 2M1EUB, depending on the
weather, from the Island of Skye in western Scotland beginning on Sept-
ember 24 for one week. This will be from grid IO67vj.

During Paul's second week of mobile satellite operations he plans to
operate from the eastern side of Scotland.

Paul advises that mobile/portable internet coverage is spotty in these
locations but he will attempt access occasionally. He has posted more
informaion on his 2M1EUB information at http://www.qrz.com

[ANS thanks Paul, 2E1EUB for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.07
AMSAT Member N8MS in Newspaper Feature With Students

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.07
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-268.07

Matt Severin, N8MS, principal of Dowagiac Middle School in Michigan,
took some of his students outside to track and listen to the satel-
lite ARISSat-1 on Tuesday, September 13.

Two years earlier, Severin, then principal of Sister Lakes Elemen-
tary School, had a picture taken of the students and submitted it
to be flown on ARISSat.

On Tuesday, the students were able to track the satellite, listen to
greetings in several languages and receive telemetry as well as SSTV
(Slow Scan Television) images with a goal to promote STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math). The Daily News posted a story on
this activity: http://tinyurl.com/3z39yst (www.dowagiacnews.com)

Matt is also an instructor in the ARRL Teacher Institute and has
helped several other educators bring STEM education, based on ama-
teur radio and satellites, into their classroom.

Student submissions for ARISSat were stored on a memory chip that
was attached to ARISSat-1 and are flying along with the craft as it
orbits the Earth. The student projects and photos can all be viewed
ARISS Europe web site at: http://www.ariss-eu.org/arissat-1.htm

[ANS thanks the ARISS Status Report and Carol, KB3LKI for the above
information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.08
Special Event NW2C 911 Portable Satellite Station Video Posted

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.08
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-268.08

Pete, WB2OQQ operated a portable satellite station on September 11
using the call NW2C, at Historic Fort Totten, located in Bayside New
York, only a few miles from ground zero. Fort Totten was one of many
placed used in recovery and healing during 911.

Pete operated all available FM satellite passes that day. For those
that made a confirmed satellite contact and wish to receive a Certifi-
cate of Confirmation, visit: http://www.nw2c.org/911.html.

A video tribute is posted at: http://vimeo.com/29077529

[ANS thanks Pete, WB2OQQ for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-268.09
Satellite Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 268.09
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 25, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-268.09

+ Videos and slides from the Summer CubeSat Developers' Workshop,
held August 6-7 at the 25th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small
Satellites, are now available for download:
http://tinyurl.com/3sgnrn3 (AMSAT-UK)

+ The well publicized re-entry of the UARS satellite may have al-
ready occurred at press time. An interesting video simulation of
the re-entry can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5laK2...layer_embedded

+ An interesting article about three recently declassified American
spy satellites can be read at:
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1109/19nrodeclassified/

+ The NASA Education Express Message for September 22, 2011 reports
that registration is open for the Team America Rocketry Challenge
2012. This a national model rocket competition for U.S. students
in grades 7-12. Teams of three to 10 students are challenged to
design, build and fly a model rocket that will climb to 800 feet
with a payload of two raw eggs and stay aloft for 43 to 47 seconds.
The payload must then return to earth unbroken. Cash prizes are
awarded to the top finishers. NASA invites top teams to participate
in their Student Launch Initiative, an advanced rocketry program.
Participation is limited to the first 1,000 teams who register by
November 30, 2011. For more information, visit:
http://www.rocketcontest.org/

+ The dates for the next Hudson Valley Satcom nets are September 29,
October 13, and October 27 at 8:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
(UTC - 4). You can tune in via the 146.970 MHz Mt. Beacon repeater,
PL 100.0 or via EchoLink on the N2EYH-L node. More info is available
at: http://www.hvsatcom.org (Stu, WA2BSS)

+ A new video from NASA's Dawn spacecraft takes you on a flyover jour-
ney above the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta. The data obtained
by Dawn's framing camera, used to produce the visualizations, will
help scientists determine the processes that formed Vesta's striking
features. It will also help Dawn mission fans all over the world vis-
ualize this mysterious world, which is the second most massive object
in the main asteroid belt. The video and article is posted at:
http://tinyurl.com/3tn932m (science.nasa.gov)

+ NASA has made historic and interesting sounds and sound bites from
space missions available for download as ringtones or on your computer
for events, errors, alarms and notifications. These are available
in both MP3 and M4R (iPhone) files. To listen to and download the
sounds, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/connect/sounds
The NASA App for Android allows users to easily preview and set the
sounds as ringtones can be found at:
https://market.android.com/details?id=gov.nasa

+ Radio-Electronics.com provides concise guides, information, tutor-
ials and data about radio frequency, RF, technology and RF design
on their Radio Frequency, RF, Technology and Design pages at:
http://www.radio-electronics.com/inf...hnology-design

[ANS thanks everyone 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. And with that,
please keep in mind the ham who discovered that a positive attitude may
not solve all his problems, but it certainly annoyed enough people to
make it worth his effort.

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