T40IARU Cuba on Satellites Saturday, April 21

Hector Martinez CO6CBF - 640

Hector Martinez CO6CBF

Cuba’s recently founded amateur radio satellite group “Grupo de Radioaficionados para Operaciones Satelitales” (GROS) held three successful activities last weekend commemorating the first human manned spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin, the inaugural launch of NASA’s Space Shuttle and the 87th Anniversary of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)

This Saturday we will be activating for the very first time a special event station on satellites. We will continue celebrating the World Amateur Radio Day on the 87th Anniversary of the founding of the IARU.

As you know, this year’s theme for the World Amateur Radio Day is Amateur Radio Satellites: Celebrating 50 Years in Space in remembrance the launching of OSCAR 1 on December 12, 1961 and the launch of OSCAR 2 on June 2, 1962.

We will be on Satellites during Saturday, April 21. The special call sign is T40IARU and tentative operation is from EL92, EL83 and FL11.

Please, QSL via CO2FRC (via direct)

73 & see you on the birds!

Hector, CO6CBF
GROS`s vice-coordinator

Busy weekend for Cuba’s amateur radio satellite group http://www.uk.amsat.org/6389

Busy weekend for Cuba's amateur radio satellite group

Raydel Espinet CM2ESP - 640

Raydel Espinet CM2ESP

This is going to be a busy weekend for Cuba’s recently founded “Grupo de Radioaficionados para Operaciones Satelitales” (GROS). Three different activities have been scheduled so far.

Hector Martinez CO6CBF

Hector Martinez CO6CBF

* Friday night (20:30 EDT), Hector CO6CBF will be hosting a talk about amateur radio satellite on Pico San Juan 2m repeater (145.130). The topics will include:
– The GROS presentation in the province.
– Brief history of amateur radio satellites.
– Current operational satellites.
– Future projects.
– Types of satellites and its transmissions methods.
– Amateur radio recieving stations requirements and homebrew solutions.
– Operating practices.
– Amateur Radio Satellite operations in Cuba.
– Special Guest: Arnaldo Coro, CO2KK, Cuba’s second ham in perform a satellite QSO and Cuba’s first in conduct a EME QSO.

Pavel Costa CO7WT

Pavel Costa CO7WT

* Saturday morning (10:00 EDT) at Camaguey, Pavel CO7WT will be hosting a talk at Camaguey City Amateur Radio Club. The topics will include:
– The GROS presentation in the province.
– Brief history of amateur radio satellites and its operators.
– Basics of orbital mechanics.
– Operation methods.
– Technical requirements for set up a APRS/Beacon Packet station using the ISS digipeater.
– Amateur Radio Satellite Fleet Status.
– Related examples.

* Saturday morning at Havana (10:00 EDT) in Cuba’s National Amateur Radio Federation (FRC). Raydel CM2ESP will be hosting the Official Presentation of the recently founded Group.

The topics will include:
– Origin and background of the Group.
– Working profile and prospects.
– Brief abstract about the Group’s Rules.
– Current Board of Directors.
– Schedule of future activities and meetings.
– Questions and Answers Session.

All three events are jointly coordinated between GROS’s members and each province radio club.

The events will be also be in commemoration of the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin the April 12, 1961, the inaugural launch of NASA’s Space Shuttle on the same day of 1981 and the celebration of the 87th Anniversary of the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union, IARU, April 18, 1925.

Unfortunately in both Saturday’s activities we will not be able to perform a satellite demostration because ISS and AO-27 passes are too late and SO-50 is too early instead. We are right know working on more activities coordinations for the next week.

73, Raydel, CM2ESP

Yuri’s Night April 12 http://www.uk.amsat.org/6338

New Cuban Amateur Radio Satellite Group formed http://www.uk.amsat.org/5454

Busy weekend for Cuba’s amateur radio satellite group

Raydel Espinet CM2ESP - 640

Raydel Espinet CM2ESP

This is going to be a busy weekend for Cuba’s recently founded “Grupo de Radioaficionados para Operaciones Satelitales” (GROS). Three different activities have been scheduled so far.

Hector Martinez CO6CBF

Hector Martinez CO6CBF

* Friday night (20:30 EDT), Hector CO6CBF will be hosting a talk about amateur radio satellite on Pico San Juan 2m repeater (145.130). The topics will include:
– The GROS presentation in the province.
– Brief history of amateur radio satellites.
– Current operational satellites.
– Future projects.
– Types of satellites and its transmissions methods.
– Amateur radio recieving stations requirements and homebrew solutions.
– Operating practices.
– Amateur Radio Satellite operations in Cuba.
– Special Guest: Arnaldo Coro, CO2KK, Cuba’s second ham in perform a satellite QSO and Cuba’s first in conduct a EME QSO.

Pavel Costa CO7WT

Pavel Costa CO7WT

* Saturday morning (10:00 EDT) at Camaguey, Pavel CO7WT will be hosting a talk at Camaguey City Amateur Radio Club. The topics will include:
– The GROS presentation in the province.
– Brief history of amateur radio satellites and its operators.
– Basics of orbital mechanics.
– Operation methods.
– Technical requirements for set up a APRS/Beacon Packet station using the ISS digipeater.
– Amateur Radio Satellite Fleet Status.
– Related examples.

* Saturday morning at Havana (10:00 EDT) in Cuba’s National Amateur Radio Federation (FRC). Raydel CM2ESP will be hosting the Official Presentation of the recently founded Group.

The topics will include:
– Origin and background of the Group.
– Working profile and prospects.
– Brief abstract about the Group’s Rules.
– Current Board of Directors.
– Schedule of future activities and meetings.
– Questions and Answers Session.

All three events are jointly coordinated between GROS’s members and each province radio club.

The events will be also be in commemoration of the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin the April 12, 1961, the inaugural launch of NASA’s Space Shuttle on the same day of 1981 and the celebration of the 87th Anniversary of the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union, IARU, April 18, 1925.

Unfortunately in both Saturday’s activities we will not be able to perform a satellite demostration because ISS and AO-27 passes are too late and SO-50 is too early instead. We are right know working on more activities coordinations for the next week.

73, Raydel, CM2ESP

Yuri’s Night April 12 http://www.uk.amsat.org/6338

New Cuban Amateur Radio Satellite Group formed http://www.uk.amsat.org/5454

PY4ZBZ captures stunning image from Noaa 15 using AMSAT-UK FUNcube Dongle.

Roland (PY4ZBZ) used an AMSAT-UK FUNcube Dongle VHF/UHF software defined radio to capture this stunning image from Noaa 15

Noaa 15 Image

“NOAA-15 vertical pass over my QTH
Sete Lagoas GH70un Brasil
Received with FCD+DCA antenna+Spectravue”

The FUNcube Dongle was developed as part of the educational outreach for AMSAT-UK FUNcube satellite project. Although it was designed  to enable school students to receive the satellite beacon the wide frequency coverage of 64 – 1700MHz has meant that it can be used for many other applications.

The AMSAT-UK FUNcube Dongle VHF/UHF SDR is available at http://www.FUNcubeDongle.com/
It is also sold by Martin Lynch & Sons (ML&S) at http://tinyurl.com/MLandS-FCD

FUNcube Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube

AUC – CubeSat I AUC has decided to join the quest for space technology, and develop the 1st ever student-built satellite in Egypt.

 

The CubeSat Program has revolutionized the space industry and space activities. Access to space turned from an obscure dream to a vivid reality to many research and academic institutions around the world. The American University in Cairo has the capacity and the expertise to join this prestigious club of ambitious institutions in the quest for space technology. Contrary to the belief that it requires a team of rocket scientists to design, build, and operate a spacecraft, the project is a multi-disciplinary effort, leveraging insight and expertise accross multiple science and engineering discip-lines. AUC will be the first institution in the Arab Region to design and build a satellite.

This multidisciplinary project will stimulate technological research and innovation across many departments at AUC. Having hands on access to conceiving, designing, building and operating actual spacecrafts will provide students with a level of prestigious, unprecedented, interdisciplinary experience. In addition to the technical knowledge, students will develop leadership qualities, as well as project manag-ement and interpersonal skills that are invaluable in todays market, all of which will start to accumulate at the national level as students leave the university and enter the local industry. If you are interested in joining the CubeSat design team, and being part of this prestigious endeavor, please visit the “Join AUC – CubeSat” page for more information. Fady Michel, Ph.D. AUC – CubeSat System Architect AUC.CubeSat@gmail.com

http://www.SpaceExploration-eg.com/

BBC TV – How Satellites Rule Our World

They are constantly circling hundreds of miles above our heads, driving our daily lives – yet we barely give satellites a second thought. Satellite engineer Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock Ph.D., MBE wants to change all that. She wants to make us realise and appreciate what these unsung heroes of the modern world have done for us.

Maggie reveals how satellites have revolutionised exploration, communication, location-finding and spying. She discovers how they have transformed not only the way we see our planet but our understanding of the dangers within it, like volcanoes and earthquakes. Plus, she discovers the jaw-dropping power of the technology used by satellites to make our lives run smoothly.

The final 8 minutes of the show covers CubeSats and features Peter Shaw of the amateur radio STRaND smartphone satellite project.

‘In Orbit: How Satellites Rule Our World’ was broadcast on BBC 2 at 2100 BST (2000 UT) on Sunday, March 25 and is available to watch on the web at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01f6qpq/In_Orbit_How_Satellites_Rule_Our_World/

It is understoood that this broadcast could be blocked in certain countries. A way around this may be to use a Proxy Server or software such as Expat Shield.

Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock Ph.D., MBE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggie_Aderin-Pocock

UK Amateur Radio Smartphone CubeSat STRaND-1 http://www.uk.amsat.org/1942