ARLA/CLUSTER: AMSAT Anuncia Planos para 2008 (Inglês)
Carlos Nora
carlosnora.ct1end gmail.com
Sábado, 8 de Março de 2008 - 08:25:33 WET
AMSAT Announces Plans for 2008
By JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM
k9jkm amsat.org
March 05, 2008
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Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation launches into 2008.
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[image: AMSAT VP of Engineering Bob McGwier, N4HY]
<http://www.arrl.org/news/images/nms/fullsized/21.jpg>
AMSAT VP of Engineering Bob McGwier, N4HY, discusses the Intelsat
geosynchronous opportunity.
[image: AMSAT President Rick Hambly, W2GPS]
<http://www.arrl.org/news/images/nms/fullsized/20.jpg>
AMSAT President Rick Hambly, W2GPS, says Amateur Radio in space must produce
services that truly excite AMSAT's potential funding sources.
[image: AMSAT Executive Vice President Lee McLamb]
<http://www.arrl.org/news/images/nms/fullsized/19.jpg>
AMSAT Executive Vice President Lee McLamb tells of potential launch
opportunities.
[image: Student at AMSTAT symposium]
<http://www.arrl.org/news/images/nms/fullsized/18.jpg>
The Symposium weekend also included an antenna workshop for middle school
and high school students.
[image: AMSAT Laboratory facility]
<http://www.arrl.org/news/images/nms/fullsized/17.jpg>
The new AMSAT Laboratory facility in Maryland.
[image: AMSAT Laboratory]
<http://www.arrl.org/news/images/nms/fullsized/22.jpg>
Getting ready to build the satellite control station at the new AMSAT
Laboratory.
Over the weekend of October 26 through October 28, 2007, amateur satellite
operators enjoyed a weekend in the mountains of western Pennsylvania with
the autumn leaves at their peak color. The Wireless Association of South
Hills <http://www.n3sh.org/>, Skyview Amateur Radio
Club<http://www.skyviewradio.net/>,
Breeze Shooters Amateur Radio Club <http://www.breezeshooters.net/>
and Washington
Amateur Communications <http://www.wacomarc.org/index.html> clubs in the
Pittsburgh area teamed up to host the 2007
AMSAT<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/index.php>
Space Symposium at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott Hotel.
Here are the highlights of AMSAT's plans for 2008:
• Geosynchronous Satellite Announcement (Phase IV Lite)
• AMSAT-DL Phase 3 Express High Earth Orbit Satellite Nears Completion
• AMSAT Eagle High Earth Orbit Satellite Construction and Testing Started
• AMSAT Satellite Integration Lab in Maryland Comes Online
• New Space Education Opportunities
**
*Geosynchronous Bird Means Around the Clock Coverage*
At the Symposium AMSAT President Rick Hambly, W2GPS, along with Vice
President of Engineering Bob McGwier, N4HY, were able to make public the
results of their recent work, which will change the face of Amateur Radio
going forward. AMSAT has been in consultation with
Intelsat<http://www.intelsat.com/>regarding an application of Intelsat
communications satellites carrying our
Amateur Radio satellites into geosynchronous orbit.
Bob described changes in Department of Defense (DoD) policies that will
require DoD-subsidized launches to allow secondary payloads to fill in
excess launch capacity of the primary mission. During his talk, "Where's the
Launch," Lee McLamb, KU4OS, explained that factors such as the increased
size and efficiency of launch vehicles results in excess lift capacity. Gone
are the days where adding a pound to the payload meant removing a pound of
fuel from the booster. Lee described how current missions on the schedule
have 1000 to 1500 pounds of excess capability. These are slots AMSAT can fit
into.
Bob, N4HY, made the following observation about the Phase IV Lite project,
"There is enough in place at this time that AMSAT needs to begin planning
engineering work and possible construction of a geosynchronous payload so we
are ready if Intelsat says they have a ride for us."
**
*Phase IV Payload*
The Phase IV Lite Geosynchronous Payload is planned to consist of
transponders already under development for the Phase 3 satellites, P3E and
Eagle. AMSAT plans to develop an earth station attainable by the average ham
so that users can immediately take advantage of the audio, digital messaging
and video services offered by the Advanced Communication Package (ACP).
**
*A New Era for Emergency Communications?*
The ACP will be a self-contained earth station that could be sent with
Amateur Radio communication teams or delivered to disaster areas for
24/7/365 emergency communications. These teams would be able to point a
small dish at a predictable spot in the sky and immediately begin delivering
disaster communication support without depending on HF propagation.
**
*Educational Opportunities are Mind Boggling*
A Phase IV payload could also be used to provide TDRSS-like (Tracking and
Data Relay Satellite System) relay of Amateur Radio on the International
Space Station (ARISS) communications. The 10 minute school contact could now
be expanded to an hours-long contact with the International Space Station.
This opens possibilities for student involvement with experiments aboard the
space station.
**
*Let's Get Started!*
The Intelsat geosynchronous platform will be able to provide the AMSAT Phase
IV Lite payload with approximately 400 W of dc power for 15 years. The
primary payload would also perform the geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO)
boost phase as well as perform station keeping and antenna pointing once it
has arrived on station. Bob, N4HY, summarized," The Intelsat team would be
doing all the things nearly impossible for amateurs and that enables AMSAT
to do what we do best ... build a communication system that changes Amateur
Radio for the better!"
**
*AMSAT-DL Phase 3E Update*
Hartmut Päsler, DL1YDD, Vice President and Board Member of AMSAT-DL
discussed the current status of the P3E and P5A missions. Hartmut explained
that P3E is nearing completion for assembly and testing with international
cooperation from AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-UK. The ZEL laboratory may be closed by
early 2008 as P3E is completed and will be ready for launch.
AMSAT-DL is currently investigating launch opportunities with
Ariane<http://www.arianespace.com/site/index.html>and Soyuz-2 from the
ESA Spaceport in French Guiana. Additional launch
opportunities may arise with Intelsat as was disclosed during the Symposium.
**
*AMSAT Eagle Update*
The current baseline plans for Eagle's linear transponders are being
expanded into dual use for Phase 3 and Phase IV application:
- UHF uplink / VHF downlink linear transponder using Software Defined
Transponder (SDX).
- L-band 1269 MHz uplink / S1-band 2400 MHz downlink linear
transponder (also SDX).
- The details of the Advanced Communication Package planned to be used
on Eagle and Phase IV are to include these capabilities:
- S2-band 3400-3410 MHz downlink and C-band 5650-5670 MHz uplink (10
MHz segment TBD).
- Phased array with up to 22.4 dBi gain is under study.
- Uplink and downlink would be accessible to hams not already on
satellites or facing antenna restrictions. 60 cm dish would work for all
users.
- Simultaneous development of earth-station package accessible to the
average ham.
- Earth stations available for EMCOMM teams and educational outreach.
- Probable capacity of 500 text rate, voice grade channels and video
-- scalable data rates depending on the class of the communication
application.
*Educational Outreach Expands*
Educational outreach, at all levels from elementary through university,
continues to be one of AMSAT's primary missions.
Rick, W2GPS, shared the second educational opportunity arising out of
AMSAT's cooperation agreement with the University of Maryland -- Eastern
Shore. This compact already provides the laboratory facilities for AMSAT's
new satellite integration lab in Maryland. The educational outreach is
planned to begin during the summer of 2008 when AMSAT, the Hawk Institute
for Space Sciences <http://www.hawkspace.org/> and the University of
Maryland initiate the *AMSAT Institute*. The initial focus of the Institute
will be to train a team of educators in space education and satellites.
These educators would then branch out and train more teachers to bring AMSAT
and Amateur Radio into their classroom.
A hands-on educational project at the symposium was led by Richard Crow,
N2SPI. Richard led student satellite workshops. A group of eager middle
school and high school students were mentored in building their own
satellite downlink antennas, which were successful in receiving SO-50.
**
*AMSAT Maryland Lab*
Robert Davis, KF4KSS, AMSAT Lab Manager and Assistant Vice-President of
Engineering showed photographs and discussed the progress of building out
the new AMSAT Satellite Integration Laboratory in Pocomoke City, Maryland.
This laboratory is a collaborative effort between AMSAT and the Hawk
Institute for Space Sciences (HISS) also located in Pocomoke City, Maryland,
on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay.
The clean room is currently being assembled. The office walls have been
completed and the laboratory, electrostatic workstations, soldering
equipment and machine shop have been constructed.
The 8500 square foot facility containing office, laboratory and machine shop
space will also include a satellite earth station scheduled to be installed
in February, 2008. The laboratory will begin to be used with a university
Cubesat <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/cubesats.php> project in
accordance with AMSAT's agreement. The
Eagle<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/eagle/>satellite will be built
and integrated at this facility also.
**
*SuitSat-2 Announced*
Lou McFaddin, W5DID, described the ongoing design and construction of the
communication and experimental payload for
SuitSat-2<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/index.php>,
which will hopefully be deployed in 2008. The SuitSat-2 project will
feature:
- Expanded educational outreach
- Linear software defined transponder
- CW ID
- Voice messages
- FM crossband repeater
- SSTV images of the earth from four cameras
- Temperature sensors
- Room to accommodate four experimental packages
- CD-ROM containing student art and messages
*Human Space Flight - ARISS Reaches More Students*
ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, discussed 7 years of
continuous operation of the ARISS program. As of this time the ARISS program
has made over 330 school contacts by 16 consecutive amateur licensed crews.
The program touches over 15,000 students per year. AMSAT is a key partner in
the ARISS program.
Classroom contacts and Amateur Radio operations aboard the ISS are planned
to continue and to grow in 2008 as the workload aboard the space station
permits.
**
*In Conclusion*
The AMSAT Board of Directors announced that the 2008 AMSAT Space Symposium
will be held in the October timeframe in Atlanta, Georgia. This Symposium
will be named the "2008 Harry Yoneda JA1ANG AMSAT Space Symposium" in memory
and honor of JA1ANG -- Silent Key. Harry was a former AMSAT Board Member and
close friend of many in the group. Harry also was a founding member of
JAMSAT.
It was a special weekend. AMSAT's news on new opportunities and the
technical discussion charged up everyone who attended. They realized they
were there on the weekend that changed Amateur Radio.
*All photos courtesy of JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM.*
*JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM, was first licensed in 1973. Her main Amateur Radio
activities include working the low orbit satellites, ISS packet, learning
software defined radio and building a microwave-capable station.*
*She has enjoyed a 20+ year career in the telecommunications industry
working as a communications systems engineer for FermiLab, Motorola and
Northrop-Grumman. Her second career is as a reg**istered nurse in a hospital
cardiac unit. She is Senior Editor of the AMSAT News Service and prepares
news for the AMSAT Web pages.*
__,_._,___
--
73 e Obrigado , Carlos Nora - CT1END
Presidente de Direcção da REP
TM 963 076 931
NNNN
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