Tag Archives: STEM

Mar 10 2023

AMSAT-India at National Science Day event

Engineering Students were among the visitors to the stand

Engineering Students were among the visitors to the stand

To celebrate National Science Day of India on February 28 one of the biggest Science Carnival 2023 was organised by Gujarat state – India at prestigious Science City Ahmedabad during 28th February to 4th March 2023.

AMSAT-INDIA was specially invited to participate in this biggest scientific exhibition for mass awareness on Amateur Radio & Satellite Communication!

AMSAT-INDIA Regional Coordinator Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP & team member Sakshi Vagadia VU3EXP did huge efforts to mass promote AMSAT activities amongst all sort of visitors which includes young kids, school-college students, budding engineers, IT Programmers, general public, professionals from various industries, scientists from renowned organization like ISRO, PRL, IPR, VSSE, ISR, officers from BSF, Police, Fire dept and citizens from every walk of life! More than 100,000 visitors were reported and grabbed the opportunity to visit science carnival 2023 and our Science exhibition during 5 days.

AMSAT-INDIA stall was spacious & decent sized at 3m x 3m, it was a big attraction at the center of the Science Exhibition. With well prepared different informative Banners on AMSAT-INDIA, Various Satellite Activities, Amateur Radio Satellite chronology, ARISS Student outreach program, ARISS SSTV event, Question submission for our upcoming ARISS student outreach program etc was absolutely eye catching from a distance.

Kiran on the AMSAT-India stand

Kiran on the AMSAT-India stand

For the curious visitors we tried to highlight every aspect of our hobby and exhibited all sorts of Radio stuff, Documents, QSL Cards, Books, Ham Licence, Awards, Project articles, Tracking software, SSTV software, SDR Software, Cube Satellite models etc to give bit idea of our hobby.

Experiencing various amateur radio gears, satellite antenna & test instruments were highly appreciated by visiting budding engineers from a number of colleges at AMSAT-INDIA stall. Some of the stuff we displayed include; Dual band Arrow-II antenna, dual band Yagi, tape measure antenna, GP, Telescopic antenna for SDR, Radios includes Icom IC-705 with LiFePO4 battery pack, Kenwood VHF base, half dozen of VHF/UHF HTs, RTL-SDR setup, LDG ATU, NanoVNA, Morse Key, cw oscillator, Paddle, electronic keyer, SWR/Power meter, Cable, Connectors etc. It made our task easy to explain the use of each stuff according to the visitors’ query.

We came across various types of queries like how to be a Ham, Procedure to get license, Types of Amateur Radio satellites, operating modes, setting up ground station, how to receive ISS SSTV images, how to establish satellite contact etc. We made a humble attempt to answer & satisfy all of those queries. We enjoyed a very detailed discussion with students/groups who already know about Amateur Radio and always need to learn more on Satellite Communication.

We also highlighted contributions of worldwide AMSAT organizations, IARU, ARISS, RSGB, ARRL and our ARSI & GIAR. I also mark a note on an author and my teacher Mr. Nagendra Vijay of popular Gujarati Science magazine named ‘Scope’ who did tremendous efforts to introduce Ham Radio in Gujarat (India) 40 years back and still continue to create awareness via it’s leading Science magazine ‘Safari’, his stall was just after a row.

Our AMSAT-INDIA stall were visited by many well-wisher GIAR Ham friends including VU2CPV Pravinbhai, VU2JGI Jagdishbhai, VU2MJP Manojbhai, VU2SPF Bhatnagarji, VU3APY Asheshbhai, VU3VDC Vitthhalbhai, VU3GLY Priyesh, VU3WHO Snehal etc.

It was a great experience for us to spend the whole 5 days enjoying talking & explaining our favorite hobby Amateur Radio & Satellite Communication!

We were happy to present amateur radio as a scientific hobby & experimenting platform for diversified fields and not just emergency communication tools!

Lots of positive & appreciating feedback we received in the visitor feedback book.

We are thankful to Science Carnival 2023 Organiser Dr. Vrajesh Parikh, Pulkesh Prajapati, Dr. Narotam Sahoo & team for inviting us for this prestigious Science Carnival Exhibition. I also thank our AMSAT-INDIA Secretary Mr Nitin Muttin VU3TYG, Director Educational B. A. Subramani VU2WMY, President Ramesh Ramsubbu VU2RMS & committee for complete guidance and support extended to us.

I specially thank team member Sakshi Vagadia VU3EXP & my XYL Kiran Vagadia for supporting and assisting me all the time during the 5 day exhibition.

I am optimistic to see the next generation taking keen interest in Amateur Radio & Satellites from VU Land.

Thank you
73 Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP
Rajkot – Gujarat
Regional Coordinator West India Zone, AMSAT-INDIA

Many youngsters visited the stand

Many youngsters visited the stand

Aug 16 2022

BBC TV feature 8-year-old’s ISS amateur radio contact

Isabella Payne being interviewed by BBC TVs Josie Hannett

Isabella Payne being interviewed by BBC TVs Josie Hannett

On Tuesday, August 16, BBC TV’s Josie Hannett interviewed 8-year-old Isabella Payne about her amateur radio contact with NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS on the International Space Station.

On August 2, Isabella, a member of Hilderstone Radio Society G0HRS, used her Dad’s amateur radio station M0LMK to make contact with Kjell who was using the ISS amateur station, callsign NA1SS.  Isabella has been involved in several amateur radio events and hopes to have her own amateur radio licence soon.

The BBC News item was broadcast in the show BBC South East Today at 1830 BST (1730 GMT) on Tuesday, August 16. It is available on the web fast forward to 15:25 into the show at
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001b8bk/south-east-today-evening-news-16082022

BBC South East on Instagram: A dream come true for eight-year-old Isabella!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChU0oenDiD6/

You can read the BBC News item at
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-62563215

Isabella was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday, August 16, at 1740 BST (1640 GMT) and BBC Radio Kent on August 17 at 0820 BST (0720 GMT).

CNN interview conducted Wednesday, August 17
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/17/uk/girl-iss-amateur-radio-scn-scli-intl-gbr/index.html

Press coverage of eight-year-old’s ISS ham radio contact
https://amsat-uk.org/2022/08/11/press-report-8-year-olds-iss-contact/

ISS astronaut’s favorite ham radio contact
https://amsat-uk.org/2022/08/03/iss-astronauts-favorite-ham-radio-contact/

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Free UK amateur radio Online Training course https://essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/

Aug 11 2022

Press coverage of eight-year-old’s ISS ham radio contact

Isabella's picture being viewed by Kjell on the ISS

Isabella’s picture being viewed by Kjell on the ISS

Kent’s Isle of Thanet News reports on the amateur radio contact between 8-year-old Isabella Payne and NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS on the International Space Station.

In the Isle of Thanet News, Kathy Bailes, writes:

A Broadstairs eight-year-old has chatted with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station and a recording of the conversation will feature on the NASA website.

Isabella Payne spoke to Astronaut Kjell Lindgren as the ISS flew overhead last week.

The youngster was with dad Matthew [M0LMK] who is a license holding amateur radio enthusiast and tutor. He and Isabella are both members of Hilderstone Radio Society.

Matthew said: “Isabella has been a member of the radio club ever since she was born and has been playing with the radio since she was six. Because I have the full licence she can sit on my knee and use the radio to speak to people as long as I am controlling it. Everyone at the club can do that. She has been involved in a few radio events, Children On The Air events, and will hopefully go for her own licence soon.

Read full story by Kathy Bailes and listen to the recording on the Isle of Thanet News site at
https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2022/08/10/broadstairs-eight-year-old-to-feature-on-nasa-website-after-radio-chat-with-iss-astronaut/
https://twitter.com/IsleThanetNews/status/1557404614076530688

Matthew M0LMK tweeted about the picture shown above:
“Isabella has been having an email exchange with the @NASA #ISS team, you know, as you do! She sent a photo for their publicity team and asked for it to be sent onto @astro_kjell. Here’s what she got in return…”
https://twitter.com/m0lmk/status/1556976125359919105

ISS astronaut’s favourite ham radio contact
https://amsat-uk.org/2022/08/03/iss-astronauts-favorite-ham-radio-contact/

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Free UK amateur radio Online Training course https://essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/

Aug 3 2022

ISS astronaut’s favorite ham radio contact

Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS

Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS

NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS, who is on the International Space Station, describes his amateur radio contact with 8-year-old Isabella from Kent, UK, as his favorite so far.

He tweeted:
I’ve had a lot of fun using the #ARISS amateur radio station #NA1SS on the @Space_Station to talk with ham radio operators all over the world. I’ve even (unofficially) worked stations on all continents! But this may be my favorite contact so far. Thanks Isabella and @m0lmk !
https://twitter.com/astro_kjell/status/1554592817024040960

Matt M0LMK had tweeted:
April 23, 2016. A 2 year old sat on my knee and watched the students of Wellesley House school chat with @astro_timpeake, an event I helped organise. Today she got her chance. Thank you so much @astro_kjell, you have changed her world. #iss #NASA #ARISS
https://twitter.com/m0lmk/status/1554561621640585224

A recording of the contact is at
https://www.m0lmk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Isabella_ISS_Contact_02-08-22.mp3

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

Mar 1 2020

Project for school QO-100 amateur radio stations

Es'hail-2 Qatar-OSCAR-100DARC reports on a Practical Seminar about the amateur radio QO-100 geostationary satellite transponders. Part of seminar fees goes to the “School stations on QO-100” project.

A translation of the DARC post reads:

Top-class seminar in the DARC office in Baunatal: On February 28, experts from AMSAT-DL e.V. gave around 40 people a detailed insight into the possibilities offered by the QO-100 amateur radio transponders on the geostationary satellite Es’hail-2.

AMSAT-DL President Peter Gülzow, DB2OS, started with a keynote speech. Workshops with four lecturers dealt with different operating modes, different hardware concepts and readily available software solutions for the PC.

Part of the attendance fee will go to the joint project of DARC and AMSAT-DL “School stations on QO-100”. Together they want to equip ten schools that already have a training call sign with a complete reception system for the narrowband transponder.

DARC and AMSAT-DL want to motivate more young people for amateur radio through the possibilities that QO-100 offers.

Source DARC https://darc.de/

QO-100 info https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geo/eshail-2/

Oct 21 2019

Inspiring Youth with Science in Space

Astronaut Sunita Williams KD5PLB answers questions from a student using amateur radio

Astronaut Sunita Williams KD5PLB answers questions from a student using amateur radio

NASA highlight the role of amateur radio in letting young people speak directly with astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station:

An ARISS contact takes place as a part of a comprehensive suite of education activities. To prepare for an exchange, students study the space station and the research conducted there. They also learn about wireless technology, radio science, and satellite communication used for space exploration.

The space station must pass over these earthbound communicators during amateur radio transmissions in order to relay signals between the space station’s ham radio and ground receivers. Other factors affect the timing of scheduled contacts, including weather, crew availability, and the schedules of visiting vehicles.

These ham radio conversations usually last about 10 minutes. Crew members answer questions from students as they and community members look on. During a pass, the crew can answer an average of 18 questions, depending on their complexity.

Ham radio on the space station connects and inspires students in four ways: providing first-hand education about life in space, directly connecting students with space station crew, sharing amateur radio technologies, and building global partnerships.

Read the full NASA story at
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/b4h-3rd/ge-inspiring-youth-with-space-science