XPost: rec.radio.info

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-040

In this edition:

* AMSAT-EA's HADES-R Successfully Deployed and Transmitting Telemetry
* Blue Origin Simulates Lunar Gravity on Landmark New Shepard Flight
* Interlune Aims to Mine Lunar Helium-3 for Quantum Computing on Earth
* VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standings for February 2025
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for February 7, 2025
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information se rvice of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news
related to Amateur Radio in Space including 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 digita
l Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in S pace as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat .org<http://amsat.org>

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletin
s via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postor ius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

ANS-040 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

To: All RADIO AMATEURS

From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation

712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002

DATE 2025 Feb 9

________________________________
AMSAT-EA's HADES-R Successfully Deployed and Transmitting Telemetry

The HADES-R amateur radio satellite, operated by AMSAT-EA, has been success fully deployed and is functioning as expected. According to AMSAT-EA�s up
date on January 23rd, the satellite is transmitting telemetry data, and the
initial health reports indicate that it is in good condition. The team is actively receiving data and preparing to transition the satellite into repe ater mode once all necessary checks are completed. Amateur radio operators worldwide are encouraged to share their telemetry reports to assist in conf irming its operational status.

Deployment occurred on January 22nd at 15:42 UTC from the D-Orbit ION-SCV-0
16 orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) after launching on January 14th aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-12 mission from Vandenber
g Space Force Base. The mission carried 131 payloads, including amateur rad
io satellites HADES-R and PARUS-T1. Due to the large number of satellites o nboard, deployments were staggered over several days. Early signals were re ported by amateur operators, but official confirmation from AMSAT-EA follow
ed later. Transmissions began shortly after deployment, though the FM repea
ter remains inactive as testing and validation processes continue. [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AMSAT-EA-HADES- R-PocketQube.jpg]<https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/0 2/AMSAT-EA-HADES-R-PocketQube.jpg>
HADES-R remains in good condition, with successful telemetry decodes report
ed worldwide. [Credit: AMSAT-EA<https://x.com/AmsatSpain>]

Designed to provide FM voice repeater capabilities, the satellite also supp orts various digital modes, including FSK telemetry and APRS at up to 1200
bps. It features a downlink frequency of 436.888 MHz, as coordinated by the
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). While FM voice is its primary mi ssion, it will also transmit experimental data and FSK telemetry. The uplin
k frequency is 145.925 MHz, supporting FM voice and various digital modes, including AX.25 and APRS. The FM repeater will operate without requiring a subtone, activating via squelch level.

As part of AMSAT-EA�s ongoing efforts to expand amateur radio satellite o perations, this spacecraft is the first of two planned replacements for HAD ES-D (SO-121). The second, HADES-ICM, is expected to launch on the upcoming
Transporter-13 mission in March 2025. Both satellites will provide FM and digital communication options, allowing amateur operators to engage in long -distance contacts. Additionally, HADES-ICM will host an experimental paylo
ad from the University of Manchester�s Smart IR/Graphene Engineering Inno vation Centre (GEIC), testing a low-power active radiator under space condi tions. AMSAT-EA has urged the amateur radio community to continue monitorin
g transmissions and sharing received telemetry data as the satellite progre sses towards full operational capability.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-EA<https://x.com/AmsatSpain> and Jose Rodriguez, EB1AO<ht tps://x.com/eb1ao>, for the above information]

________________________________
Blue Origin Simulates Lunar Gravity on Landmark New Shepard Flight

Blue Origin successfully launched its NS-29 mission on February 4th, markin
g a significant milestone in suborbital research. The mission, which lifted
off from the company�s West Texas launch site at 11 a.m. EST (16:00 UTC)
, was originally scheduled for January 28th but was delayed due to weather
and technical issues. This flight was the 29th for the reusable New Shepard
vehicle and featured a unique capability: the simulation of lunar gravity
in suborbital space.

The NS-29 mission proceeded as planned, with both the booster and the crew capsule executing safe returns to Earth. The booster performed a controlled
vertical landing on the designated pad, while the capsule descended under parachutes, touching down in the West Texas desert approximately 10 minutes
after launch. However, one of the capsule�s three parachutes did not ful
ly open. Blue Origin officials assured viewers during the live broadcast th
at the spacecraft is designed to land safely even if not all parachutes ful
ly deploy.

A key feature of this mission was its ability to generate lunar gravity for ces�a first for New Shepard. The capsule achieved this by rotating about
11 times per minute for two minutes using its reaction-control thrusters. T
his capability was developed to support research on lunar-related technolog ies, benefiting the 30 payloads aboard the spacecraft. Among these, 29 expe riments were specifically designed to test innovations applicable to the Mo on�s environment. [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Blue-Origin-New -Shepard-NS-29-Launch-1024x576.jpg]<https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-cont ent/uploads/2025/02/Blue-Origin-New-Shepard-NS-29-Launch.jpg>
Blue Origin New Shepard NS-29 mission simulated lunar gravity to support lu nar-related research for 30 payloads. [Credit: Blue Origin<https://www.blue origin.com/>]

Blue Origin categorized these experiments into six focus areas: in-situ res ource utilization, dust mitigation, advanced habitation systems, sensors an
d instrumentation, small spacecraft technologies, and entry, descent, and l anding methods. Many of these experiments were backed by NASA�s Flight Op portunities Program, underscoring the space agency�s commitment to develo
ping technology for lunar exploration. With the Artemis program aiming for long-term human presence on the Moon, missions like NS-29 provide valuable
data to refine critical systems for future lunar operations.

Notable NASA-supported experiments aboard NS-29 included the Electrostatic
Dust Lofting project, which examined how lunar dust becomes electrically ch arged and moves when exposed to ultraviolet light. Another key experiment,
the Lunar-g Combustion Investigation, studied fire behavior in lunar gravit
y compared to Earth�s, helping to enhance safety in future lunar habitats
. Other experiments tested propellant management in low gravity, soil analy
sis tools, and small satellite propulsion systems, all contributing to adva ncing space exploration technologies.

New Shepard, named after astronaut Alan Shepard, has been operational since
its first uncrewed flight in April 2015. The vehicle made history in 2021
by carrying Jeff Bezos and three others on its first crewed flight. While p rimarily known for space tourism, with nine of its 29 flights carrying pass engers, the system continues to play a critical role in scientific research
. The successful NS-29 mission not only demonstrated Blue Origin�s abilit
y to simulate lunar gravity but also reinforced its contribution to advanci
ng space technology in support of NASA�s lunar ambitions.

[ANS thanks the Mike Wall, Space.com,<https://www.space.com/> for the above
information]

________________________________
The 2025 AMSAT President�s Club Coins Have Just Arrived!
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-PC-Coin-2- Sided-Color-Web-300x148.jpg]
Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus. Join<https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/> the AMSAT Presi dent�s Club today!
________________________________
Interlune Aims to Mine Lunar Helium-3 for Quantum Computing on Earth

Interlune, a Seattle-based startup founded by former Blue Origin technologi sts, is aiming to harvest Helium-3 from the moon to support quantum computi
ng applications on Earth. Helium-3, a rare isotope deposited into the lunar
regolith by solar wind, was first identified in samples brought back by NA SA's Apollo missions. While the potential applications of Helium-3 have int rigued scientists for years, recent astrogeological research highlights sig nificant challenges in extracting the isotope. The U.S. Geological Survey ( USGS) suggests that obtaining commercially viable amounts would require pro cessing millions of tons of lunar regolith, a task comparable to large-scal
e mining operations on Earth.

Despite these hurdles, Interlune CEO Rob Meyerson remains optimistic. The c ompany envisions an extraction system operating like an agricultural setup,
with five harvesters each the size of a large SUV. Meyerson acknowledges t
hat it will take years before the company sees a financial return, but he e mphasizes the growing demand for Helium-3 in quantum computing. This isotop
e plays a critical role in cooling superconducting quantum computers to tem peratures close to absolute zero. With quantum computing companies recogniz
ing the need for a stable Helium-3 supply, Interlune believes now is the ti
me to act.

Interlune is not the first to consider the commercial potential of lunar He lium-3. Apollo 17 astronaut and Interlune's executive chairman, Jack Schmit
t, has long advocated its use in nuclear fusion reactors. However, investme
nt interest has shifted towards quantum computing applications, which promi
se quicker returns. Beyond computing, Helium-3 has other potential uses, in cluding medical imaging and radiation detection. Interlune hopes to eventua
lly supply tens of kilograms per year, a goal that Meyerson believes is bot
h realistic and financially sustainable given current market prices of arou
nd $20 million per kilogram. [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Interlune-Heliu m3-Lunar-Mining-Illustration-1024x576.jpg]<https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/ wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Interlune-Helium3-Lunar-Mining-Illustration.jpg> Concept illustration of lunar Helium-3 mining involving harvesters, a solar
power plant, rovers and return launchers. [Credit: Interlune<https://www.i nterlune.space/>]

However, some experts remain skeptical about the feasibility of large-scale
Helium-3 extraction from the moon. Laszlo Keszthelyi, a research geologist
at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, notes that lunar Helium-3 concent rations range from just 2.4 to 26 parts per billion in Apollo samples. Give
n these figures, obtaining a single kilogram would require processing betwe
en 100,000 and 1 million tons of lunar soil. Keszthelyi stops short of dism issing the endeavor outright, stating that the moon does contain resources
�it is merely a question of how they can be effectively utilized.

To address these concerns, Interlune is planning a resource development mis sion in 2027 to analyze Helium-3 concentrations at a potential mining site.
This mission will be followed by a pilot plant in 2029 to demonstrate extr action and processing on the lunar surface. The company�s initial lunar m ission will launch through NASA�s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initi ative. Interlune is actively securing funding, having already raised $18 mi llion, with plans for another round of fundraising in the near future.

While profitability remains uncertain, experts acknowledge that Interlune
�s success will depend on the efficiency of its extraction methods. Chris
Dreyer from the Colorado School of Mines notes that certain minerals trap
more Helium-3 than others, potentially increasing yield in select locations
. However, large-scale excavation will be necessary, posing technical chall enges, particularly with lunar dust. Despite these obstacles, Dreyer believ
es that iterative development�designing, testing, and improving equipment �could make Interlune�s ambitions feasible. As advances in space explor
ation continue, the prospect of mining Helium-3 on the moon is becoming an increasingly tangible reality.

[ANS thanks the Leonard David, SpaceNews<https://spacenews.com/>,<https://w ww.space.com/> for the above information]

________________________________
VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standings for February 2025

VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for January 01, 2025 to Feb ruary 01, 2025
Callsign
01/01/2025
02/01/2025
K8DP
1629
1737
WA4NVM
1653
1676
WC7V
1451
1611
DF2ET
1102
1602
DL5GAC
New
1576
DL2GRC
1166
1501
AA5PK
1426
1500
N8RO
1401
1490
W5CBF
1224
1326
N0JE
1075
1225
MI6GTY
970
1201
F4BKV
1000
1200
KF7R
1075
1175
N9EAT
1029
1127
AC9O
1001
1126
XE1AO
1000
1111
WI7P
882
1104
N3GS
986
1103
OZ9AAR
900
1100
JK2XXK
503
1086
K9UO
950
1030
KE8RJU
950
1030
EA2AA
875
1026
W2GDJ
705
1022
JN2QCV
726
1016
VE6WQ
814
1007
K6FW
951
1005
K7TAB
814
1003
YO2CMI
820
1003
PR8KW
200
1001
KQ4DO
827
952
N8JCM
New
952
FG8OJ
737
935
HB9AOF
725
907
KN2K
808
907
JL1SAM
601
905
VU2LBW
603
902
KG0D
801
900
W8LR
825
897
N0GVK
701
867
JS1LQI
500
808
K0JM
702
801
IK3ITB
500
800
KK4YEL
674
799
N5BO
650
786
JG6CDH
553
777
N8MR
658
755
KS1G
703
754
KC4CJ
602
751
WD9EWK (DM43)
734
737
KB1HY
648
727
WA4HFN
676
727
N3CAL
480
686
AC9DX
525
682
A65BR
554
676
LY4AA
New
670
N7ZO
350
669
AF5CC
646
651
IK7FMQ
500
651
N6UTC
551
651
VE7PTN
301
635
XE1UYS
505
634
LA6OP
New
632
JN1BPM
426
630
N5EKO
500
622
SA0UNX
362
617
F6GLJ
400
609
EA3TA
503
607
RA3DNC
305
599
XE2YWH
235
595
JA1GZK
435
575
WB7VUF
555
572
VE4MM
536
561
HB9GWJ
476
553
DL6KBG
331
550
WB7QXU
500
550
W9FF
New
545
KH6WI
300
530
KP3V
402
526
KO9A
434
524
AD2DD
356
517
SV8CS
New
511
VA3VGR
352
509
HP2VX
496
508
KF2T
111
505
E70A
New
504
AL7ID
320
502
N9ZTS
400
501
I3BUI
New
500
IK0USO
118
500
JR0GAS
360
500
KA9CFD
New
500
PA7RA
300
495
N6PAZ
350
479
AB1OC
407
476
W3TI
103
465
N7UJJ
308
462
DL8GAM
375
450
N8URE (FM19)
430
450
AG4W
161
438
WO3T
New
437
DJ7NT
234
432
JI5USJ
236
425
K4RGK
362
421
F6EQD
311
420
HC2FG
350
413
JE3HCZ
103
410
W3VHF
250
406
ZS2BK
305
405
NJ2DX
100
404
SP5ULN
156
404
JO4JKL
135
401
KF0QS
301
400
ON4CCN
208
400
K6VHF
276
376
W6AER
302
376
HB9RYZ
248
365
KB3IAI
254
358
KE8AKW
329
358
HB9BIN
New
356
K3HPA
300
350
LA9KY
New
347
N8HRZ
New
337
AG1A
New
335
JH8RZJ
New
328
W0PR
New
327
N4QWF
115
325
JH0BBE
322
324
N9XG
252
310
KG4ERR
New
301
IK8YTA
162
300
K7OGW
New
300
K9JKM
201
300
W6CZ
New
300
XE1BMG
120
300
KG0I
New
297
JE2UFF
185
280
JF3MKC
200
280
KB9DAK
171
278
W6IA
100
278
AA0MZ
276
277
WA3YDZ
New
271
IN3EQZ
New
268
DL5KUA
128
266
W0BZ
New
256
K5WO
New
255
AA0K
New
253
SP7JS
New
253
KH6WI/W9 (EN54)
New
250
I1FQH
173
249
BX1AD
New
237
WA8ZID
226
230
KB4DSL
127
226
N7GR
205
226
DF5SF
New
217
KB2MFS
New
215
IK0WRB
123
213
PU5DDC
200
213
KR7LD
New
211
RA0FF
New
211
PY2YJ
150
210
N4UFO
New
206
K0JQZ
New
205
N2WLS
104
205
WD5GRW
New
205
9A2GA
New
202
EK/RX3DPK
New
200
WD9EWK (DM22)
198
200
WD9EWK (DM31)
187
200
W2HRO
New
192
OK1IN
New
190
WD9EWK (DM42)
183
189
AI9IN
150
175
RA3LAS
New
172
WD9EWK (DM45)
165
170
NK0S
167
169
7J1ADJ
New
164
W4DFU
151
163
JK4JMO
New
161
DH0GSU
152
156
AE5AU
New
153
KJ7SXR
New
151
EA4DEI
100
150
G4BWP
New
150
K2MJP
125
150
KD8RTT
101
150
VE3JO
117
149
IC8TEM
New
147
VE3AAZ
118
147
SV8CKM
New
140
WD9EWK (DM25)
120
138
W0SX
New
134
BD8CBU
New
132
BI8FFH
New
132
DH9DX
New
131
PU8MRS
127
129
XE2/CO6LAR
New
129
N6UTC (DM05)
101
128
ER1KW
New
127
XE2YWH (DL82 - D
114
119
XE2YWH (DL82)
114
119
WK7G
New
118
YC1RIK
New
114
NC0Q
New
108
XE1RCU
New
108
K7AXA
New
104
XE1YD
New
104
BG6HXD
New
103
KK7OVF
New
103
N6NU
New
103
YO6OEV
New
103
4A2MAX
New
102
BI1QGX
New
102
DL3NGN
New
102
N2YZH
New
101
SV2DSJ
New
101
BA7LVG
New
100
K9DOG
New
100
KD2YIB
New
100
LZ3SV
New
100
N5YIZ
New
100
VK5DG
New
100
W4BB
New
100
W4XP
New
100
YB1RQX/P
New
100

DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for January 01, 2025 to Feb ruary 01, 2025
Callsign
01/01/2025
02/01/2025
OE9DGV
212
213
YO3APJ
162
165
EA2AA
157
158
HB9RYZ
152
153
IK4DRY
122
144
RA3DNC
131
143
IK7FMQ
120
128
SM2OAN
109
117
G4BWP
100
105
R5DT
New
102
WI7P
New
102
I4MKN
New
101
LY4AA
New
100
N0GVK
New
100

N0GVK is first DXCC Satellite holder from EN00. Congratulations to the new
DXCC Satellite holders!

[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information]

________________________________
Need new satellite antennas?
Purchase an M2 LEO-Pack from the AMSAT Store!<https://www.amsat.org/shop/> [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/cm/LEO-Pack1-300x298.pn g]<https://www.amsat.org/product/m2-leo-pack-antenna-system/>
When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/
________________________________
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for February 7, 2025

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps
in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly u pdates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin fi
les are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files
will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new
amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org /keplerian-elements-resources/.

NOTICE: In an effort to minimize confusion between sources of two line elem
ent sets, AMSAT is adopting the convention of listing the USSF/NORAD Satell
ite Catalog name first, followed by any secondary name or names in parenthe ses. For example, "POEM 4 (BGS ARPIT)" was added recently where "POEM 4" is
the name that appears in the US Space Force Satellite Catalog, and "BGS AR PIT" is the name best known within the amateur satellite community. Expect
name changes for affected satellites in the coming weeks as this change is fully implemented.

The following satellite has been added to this week's AMSAT TLE distributio
n:
HyperView 1G (RS66S) NORAD Cat ID 61772 Downlink 436.540 MHz
OBJECT BA (ZIMSAT 2) NORAD Cat ID 71783 Downlink 437.050 MHz

[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements<https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements -resources/> page for the above information]

________________________________
ARISS NEWS

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amat eurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts
and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink freque
ncy on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

+ Recently Completed

Aznakaevo Schools, Aznakaevo, Aznakaevsky District, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, direct via RC4P
The ISS callsign was RS�ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Ivan Vagner
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful: Sat 2025-02-01 11:15 UTC
Congratulations to the Aznakaevo School students, Ivan, mentor RV3DR, and g round station RC4P!

Public Primary School, La Laupie, France, direct via F5KLF
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Don Pettit KD5MDT
The ARISS mentor was F6ICS
Contact was successful: Fri 2025-02-07 14:27:07 UTC
Congratulations to the La Laupie Public Primary School students, mentor F6I
CS, and ground station F5KLF!

+ Upcoming Contacts

Kant, Kaliningrad, Russia
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RS�ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Alex Gorbunov
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for Tue 2025-02-11 09:35 UTC

City of Clifton Arts Center & Sculpture Park, Clifton, NJ, direct via W2NPT
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Don Pettit KD5MDT
The ARISS mentor is AA6TB
Contact is go for: Wed 2025-02-12 18:14:13 UTC

Many times a school may make a last minute decision to do a Livestream or r
un into a last minute glitch requiring a change of the URL but we at ARISS
may not get the URL in time for publication. You can always check https://l ive.ariss.org/ to see if a school is Livestreaming.

The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437 .800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pi
ck up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeat
er. So give a listen, you just never know.

The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down).

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios
are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orb ital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ar iss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org /contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors f
or the above information]

________________________________
Upcoming Satellite Operations

None currently posted.

A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their
grid square activations on https://hams.at. By visiting the website, you g
ain easy access to comprehensive information about the operators responsibl
e for activating specific grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability
to assess the match score between yourself and a particular rover for a giv
en pass, while also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes th
at are accessible from your location.

[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM<https://x.com/k5zm_>, AMSAT rover page manage
r, for the above information]

________________________________
AMSAT Ambassador Activities

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests,
conventions, maker faires, and other events.

AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,

�Think a 75-minute presentation on �working the easy satellites� woul
d be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lc sclint (at) gmail (dot) com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!�

Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentat ions so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences.

Yuma Hamfest and Southwestern Division Convention - February 14th thru 15th
, 2025
Yuma County Fairgrounds
2520 East 32nd Street
Yuma, AZ 85365
https://www.yumahamfest.com/
N1UW

Midwinter Madness Hamfest - March 22nd, 2025
Buffalo Civic Center
1306 County Road 134
Buffalo MN 55313
https://k0ltc.org/midwinter-madness/
K�JM, AD�HJ, KE�PBR

Southeastern VHF Conference 2025 - April 4th thru 5th, 2025
Quality Inn Exit 4
3095 Wilma Rudolph Boulevard
Clarksville, TN 37040
https://svhfs.org/wp/2025-conference/
W4FCL

[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL<https://x.com/kyharleyfan>, Director � AMSAT
Ambassador Program, for the above information]

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ AO-73 was switched back to full-time transponder mode on February 3rd, 20
25. The U/V linear transponder is now operating 24/7 after a month-long per
iod of telemetry collection on the satellite�s electrical power system. W
hile some signs of reduced battery capacity are present, the two Lithium-Io
n cells continue to perform well, supporting full transponder operation thr oughout the orbit. AO-73 features an inverting SSB/CW transponder with an u plink passband from 435.150 to 435.130 MHz (LSB) and a downlink passband fr
om 145.950 to 145.970 MHz (USB). With the transponder active, the satellite
also transmits BPSK telemetry on 145.935 MHz at 40mW. The collected teleme
try data helps assess the long-term health of the 11-year-old satellite. (A
NS thanks David Bowman, G0MRF<https://x.com/g0mrf> for the above informatio
n)

+ NASA has confirmed the crew for Axiom Mission 4, set to launch no earlier
than spring 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Kennedy Space Cent
er. The mission will be commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, w
ith ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla as pilot and ESA�s S�awosz Uzna� ski-Wi�niewski and Hungary�s Tibor Kapu as mission specialists. Once do
cked at the International Space Station, the crew will spend up to 14 days conducting science, outreach, and commercial activities. This mission inclu
des the first ISRO astronaut aboard the station and the first astronauts fr
om Poland and Hungary to stay there. NASA sees private astronaut missions a
s a way to expand access to space and support commercial activity in low Ea
rth orbit. As the agency shifts focus to deep space exploration through Art emis missions, partnerships with private companies help maintain a human pr esence in space and support research in microgravity. (ANS thanks NASA<http s://www.nasa.gov/> for the above information)

+ Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) NVS-02 navigation satellite, launched on January 28th aboard a Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (G SLV) Mark 2 rocket, was intended to replace the IRNSS-1E satellite in geost ationary orbit as part of India�s NavIC navigation system. However, ISRO confirmed on February 2nd that the satellite�s onboard propulsion system
failed due to oxidizer valves not opening, preventing it from reaching its intended orbit. As a result, NVS-02 remains stuck in an elliptical transfer
orbit with a perigee of 165 kilometers (103 miles) and an apogee of 37,582
kilometers (23,354 miles), making it vulnerable to reentry due to atmosphe
ric drag. While the spacecraft�s solar panels and other systems are funct ioning normally, ISRO is exploring alternative mission strategies to utiliz
e it in its current orbit. The 2,250-kilogram (4,960-pound) satellite was t
he second of five planned NavIC satellites aimed at enhancing regional navi gation services. Its failure raises concerns about the future deployment of
the NavIC system, and it remains unclear if any backup propulsion systems could adjust its orbit to prevent early reentry. (ANS thanks SpaceNews<http s://spacenews.com/> for the above information)

+ AstroForge, a U.S.-based asteroid mining company, has identified asteroid
2022 OB5 as the target for its upcoming Mission 2, Odin, set to launch in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Odin will serve as a scoutin
g spacecraft, flying as a secondary payload alongside Intuitive Machines' I
M-2 lunar lander, and will separate after the rocket�s upper stage fires
for the moon. The spacecraft is expected to take about 300 days to reach th
e asteroid, where it will conduct a flyby to gather crucial imagery and ass
ess the rock�s mining potential. This mission paves the way for AstroForg
e�s next endeavor, Vestri, which aims to land on the asteroid and initiat
e resource extraction, potentially launching in late 2025 as part of anothe
r rideshare mission. AstroForge, founded in January 2022, seeks to develop sustainable methods for mining precious metals from asteroids, although its
first mission, Brokkr-1, launched in April 2023, failed to activate its on board refinery technology. The company has also secured a contract with Sto
ke Space for future launches aboard the Nova rocket to support its ambitiou
s mining goals. (ANS thanks Space.com<https://www.space.com/> for the above
information)

________________________________

Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
* Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one- half the standard yearly rate.
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l be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years
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Contact info [at] amsat.org<https://www.amsat.org> for additional membershi
p information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week's ANS Editor, Mitch Ahrenstorff, AD�HJ
mahrenstorff [at] amsat.org<https://www.amsat.org>



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