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>From: "Mitch Ahrenstorff (AD0HJ) via ANS" <ans@amsat.org
>Subject: [ANS] ANS-054 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
>Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2025 19:08:58 EST
>Reply-To: "Mitch Ahrenstorff (AD0HJ)" <mahrenstorff@amsat.org>
>To: space@ww
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-054
In this edition:
* HADES-R FM Repeater Activated and Designated Spain-OSCAR 124 (SO-124)
* ARISS Completes Successful FRAM2Ham Simulation Event Using ISS Radio
* Blue Ghost and Resilience: Private Landers on Course for Lunar Touchdowns
* The Space Race Below: How Satellites Are Pushing the Limits in VLEO
* Beyond L1: Solar Sails Aim to Enhance Space Weather Alerts
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for February 21, 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-054 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 23
________________________________
HADES-R FM Repeater Activated and Designated Spain-OSCAR 124 (SO-124)
AMSAT-EA has confirmed that the FM repeater aboard the HADES-R satellite ha
s been successfully activated and is now available for amateur radio operat
ors worldwide. The activation took place on February 19th, 2025, following
a series of telemetry and command tests to ensure the satellite's stability
and performance. Early reports indicate that the repeater is functioning a
s expected, providing strong two-way FM voice communications. AMSAT-EA expr
essed its gratitude to the amateur radio community for submitting telemetry
reports, which contributed to the successful commissioning of the satellit
e.
HADES-R was launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force B
ase in California on January 14th, 2025, as part of SpaceX's Transporter-12
mission. Developed by AMSAT-EA, the satellite carries an FM and digital re
peater payload designed to provide communication services to amateur radio
enthusiasts worldwide. It was deployed from the D-Orbit ION-SCV-016 orbital
transfer vehicle on January 22nd and has since been transmitting telemetry
data while undergoing operational testing. With the repeater now active, o
perators can use the uplink frequency of 145.925 MHz and the downlink frequ
ency of 436.885 MHz for communication, with additional support for digital
modes such as APRS and FSK telemetry at various data rates.
At the request of AMSAT-EA, AMSAT has officially designated HADES-R as Spai
n-OSCAR 124 (SO-124) in recognition of its contributions to amateur satelli
te communications. This designation underscores the satellite's role in exp
anding access to space-based communications for the amateur radio community
. AMSAT congratulates AMSAT-EA on this achievement and looks forward to the
continued success of this and future projects. Meanwhile, amateur radio op
erators eagerly anticipate the upcoming launch of HADES-ICM on the Transpor
ter-13 mission in March 2025, which will further enhance satellite-based co
mmunication capabilities.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-EA<https://www.amsat-ea.org/> and Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
<https://x.com/glasbrenner>, AMSAT VP Operations / OSCAR Number Administrat
or for the above information]
________________________________
ARISS Completes Successful FRAM2Ham Simulation Event Using ISS Radio
The FRAM2Ham ISS Simulation event was a success, bringing together amateur
radio enthusiasts and educators from around the world. Over five days, part
icipants engaged in a simulated transmissions from the ISS Service Module R
adio to mirror real-world conditions aboard a Dragon spacecraft, which will
be used for the upcoming FRAM2 mission. This provided valuable practice fo
r the FRAM2Ham competition. The event was organized and run by ARISS (Amate
ur Radio on the ISS). The ham radio community followed the request to withh
old image postings until the official reveal date of February 20th. By the
end of the event, 1,975 images had been submitted, with nearly half coming
from students and educators, highlighting the educational impact of the ini
tiative.
The FRAM2 mission will be the first human spaceflight in polar orbit, flyin
g over the North and South poles. Named after the polar exploration ship Fr
am, the mission aims to highlight exploration, curiosity, and technological
progress. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch four astronauts from Europe
and Australia into orbit for 3-5 days, with a targeted launch in spring 20
25. The crew consists of mission commander Chun Wang of Malta, vehicle comm
ander Jannicke Mikkelsen of Norway, pilot Rabea Rogge of Germany, and missi
on specialist Eric Philips of Australia.
As part of the mission, Rabea Rogge, LB9NJ/KD3AID, will operate the onboard
amateur radio system, transmitting SSTV images for a high school and unive
rsity student competition. These images will also be available to the gener
al public. The FRAM2Ham competition is an experimental radio challenge open
to high school and university students, where teams receive SSTV images of
three geographical locations transmitted via the onboard ham radio. Howeve
r, these images will be fragmented and scrambled, requiring participants to
piece them together and determine their significance in polar history.
While anyone can receive the images, forming an international team may help
solve the puzzle. Participants must correctly identify at least two of the
three locations to qualify for prizes, which include QSL cards with space-
flown FRAM2 mission stickers. The competition is open to members of educati
onal institutions between the ages of 16-25 years from eligible countries,
including Europe (CEPT), the US, Canada, and Australia. The ARISS Internati
onal team has supported the event by organizing the FRAM2Ham ISS Simulation
to help participants develop skills in acquiring images for the competitio
n. For more information, visit the FRAM2HAM website at https://fram2ham.com
and the ARISS website at https://ariss.org.
[ANS thanks ARISS<https://www.ariss.org/> and Fram2Ham<https://fram2ham.com
/> for the above information]
________________________________
Blue Ghost and Resilience: Private Landers on Course for Lunar Touchdowns
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander has successfully lowered its or
bit, bringing it closer to the moon's surface as it prepares for a historic
landing attempt. The spacecraft, part of Firefly's "Ghost Riders in the Sk
y" mission, completed a three-minute, 18-second engine burn that reduced it
s altitude to 75 miles (120 kilometers) above the lunar surface. This maneu
ver marks a critical phase of the mission as the lander remains in this orb
it until its descent begins in less than two weeks.
In a recent update on X, Firefly Aerospace shared a video showcasing Blue G
host's new perspective of the lunar surface. The company also warned of int
ermittent communications blackouts as the lander orbits around the moon's f
ar side. While on the near side, mission teams are receiving data and refin
ing plans for additional engine burns that will bring Blue Ghost even close
r to its intended landing site. The mission is on track for touchdown on Ma
rch 2nd.
Blue Ghost was launched last month aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NAS
A's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar
Payload Services (CLPS) program, which contracts private companies to deliv
er scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to the moon. The la
nder is carrying 10 NASA payloads designed to study the lunar environment a
nd aid future Artemis program missions.
[https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Firefly-Aerospa
ce-Approaches-Moon-1024x755.jpg]<https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content
/uploads/2025/02/Firefly-Aerospace-Approaches-Moon.jpg>
Blue Ghost captured this image following a successful Lunar Orbit Insertion
on February 14th. [Credit: Firefly Aerospace<https://x.com/Firefly_Space>]
Sharing its launch aboard the Falcon 9 was another lunar lander, Japan-base
d ispace's Resilience. This marks ispace's second attempt at a moon landing
after its first mission ended in failure. Resilience is carrying a micro-r
over named Tenacious and follows a different trajectory than Blue Ghost, ta
king a longer, more energy-efficient route. Unlike Blue Ghost, which will a
ttempt a landing within weeks, Resilience's descent is planned for late May
or early June.
Resilience recently performed a lunar flyby on February 14th, passing withi
n 5,220 miles (8,400 kilometers) of the moon's surface. The maneuver provid
ed a gravity assist that adjusted its trajectory for a smoother arrival int
o lunar orbit in early May. The lander captured and transmitted a striking
image of the lunar surface from 8,972 miles (14,439 kilometers) away, marki
ng a milestone for Japan's private space industry.
If successful, Blue Ghost will become the second private spacecraft to land
on the moon. The lander is set to operate for one full lunar day, equivale
nt to about two weeks, before losing power as the sun sets. During that tim
e, its NASA payloads will conduct experiments, collect samples, and test ne
w technology. These efforts will contribute to ongoing lunar exploration an
d preparations for the Artemis program's future crewed missions to the moon
.
[ANS thanks the Josh Dinner / 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!
________________________________
The Space Race Below: How Satellites Are Pushing the Limits in VLEO
The race to explore the lowest reaches of space is gaining momentum as comp
anies work to deploy satellites in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). This untapp
ed region, situated just above Earth's atmosphere, presents both challenges
and unprecedented opportunities. While traditional satellites operate at a
ltitudes ranging from hundreds to thousands of miles above Earth, these new
"sky skimmers" will navigate much lower, skimming the upper reaches of the
atmosphere. The potential advantages of VLEO satellites include enhanced E
arth observation, improved communications, and the ability to remain operat
ional in orbit indefinitely through advanced propulsion technologies.
Satellites in VLEO face a difficult balancing act. Unlike their higher-alti
tude counterparts, these spacecraft must contend with significant atmospher
ic drag, which constantly threatens to pull them back to Earth. Traditional
satellites rely on their horizontal momentum to stay in orbit, but in VLEO
, this is not enough. To remain aloft, engineers are exploring Air-Breathin
g Electric Propulsion (ABEP) systems, which harvest atmospheric molecules a
nd convert them into thrust. If successful, these technologies could allow
satellites to sustain themselves indefinitely without the need for large fu
el reserves.
Several companies and institutions are actively pursuing this technology. T
he European Space Agency's Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation
Explorer (GOCE) satellite was an early attempt to operate in VLEO, using i
on propulsion to counteract drag. More recently, startups such as Kreios Sp
ace and Stellar Advanced Concepts have been developing ABEP prototypes, wit
h planned test missions in the coming years. Governments are also getting i
nvolved, with the U.S. Department of Defense investing millions in research
programs such as Otter, which aims to create operational VLEO satellites.
[https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Stellar-Advance
d-Concepts-Air-Breathing-Electric-Propulsion.jpg]<https://www.amsat.org/wor
dpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Stellar-Advanced-Concepts-Air-Breathing-E
lectric-Propulsion.jpg>
Air-breathing propulsion technology could enable satellites to remain in Ve
ry Low Earth Orbit indefinitely. [Credit: Stellar Advanced Concepts<https:/
/www.stellar-ac.com/>]
Different companies are taking varied approaches to overcoming the challeng
es of VLEO. Redwire, a Florida-based aerospace company, is working on a mod
ular satellite concept called SabreSat, designed to minimize drag and poten
tially operate for up to seven years in VLEO. The company's European divisi
on is also developing a similar spacecraft, Phantom, under the European Spa
ce Agency's Skimsat program. While Phantom will not use air-breathing propu
lsion, it will incorporate specialized materials and an aerodynamic design
to enhance longevity in low orbit.
The benefits of VLEO satellites extend beyond military and scientific appli
cations. Their close proximity to Earth enables higher-resolution imaging,
which could be useful for agriculture, disaster monitoring, and environment
al studies. Additionally, communications networks, such as satellite-based
internet services, could see a significant boost from VLEO technology. Lowe
r-altitude satellites could provide faster connections and direct-to-device
communication capabilities, potentially revolutionizing global internet ac
cess.
Despite the promise of VLEO, challenges remain. The region is highly dynami
c, with atmospheric conditions influenced by solar activity, which can caus
e unexpected changes in drag forces. Additionally, while VLEO naturally cle
ars debris by pulling defunct satellites back to Earth, high-energy collisi
ons can still send fragments into higher orbits, creating long-term space d
ebris hazards. As the race to dominate VLEO accelerates, companies and gove
rnments must address these risks while capitalizing on the immense potentia
l of this new frontier in space technology.
[ANS thanks the Jonathan O'Callaghan, BBC<https://www.bbc.com/>, for the ab
ove information]
________________________________
Beyond L1: Solar Sails Aim to Enhance Space Weather Alerts
Scientists are developing solar sail satellites as a potential early warnin
g system for geomagnetic storms, which can disrupt technological systems on
Earth. These sails, which harness sunlight for propulsion, could enhance s
pace travel and improve forecasting for space weather events.
Solar sailing operates similarly to traditional sailing, except it uses pho
tons from the sun instead of wind. "A lot of us have experienced sailing; i
t's exactly like that," said Irfan Azeem, division chief at NOAA's Office o
f Space Weather Observations. "Instead of using air, we're using the light
emitted by the sun to propel our satellites."
Unlike traditional propulsion systems, solar sails offer a cost-effective m
eans of maneuvering satellites without fuel. "This is a very novel technolo
gy," Azeem added. "We have traditionally relied on propulsion to take satel
lites from one place to another, and solar sails are providing a new, effic
ient way to travel in space." NOAA's satellites play a vital role in space
weather monitoring, gathering data that helps issue warnings for potentiall
y disruptive solar flares.
[https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Quadrant-of-Sol
ar-Cruisers-Sail-1024x478.jpg]<https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/u
ploads/2025/02/Quadrant-of-Solar-Cruisers-Sail.jpg>
One quadrant of the Solar Cruiser's whopping 17,800 square foot (1,654 squa
re meter) sail. [Credit: NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center<https://www.nasa
.gov/marshall/>]
Currently, satellites like NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer and NOAA's
Deep Space Climate Observatory track the solar wind, a stream of charged pa
rticles from the sun that can interact with Earth's magnetic field. Althoug
h current monitoring provides some advance notice of geomagnetic storms, sc
ientists aim to improve lead times by positioning satellites closer to the
sun through NOAA's Space Weather Next program.
One major advantage of solar sails is their ability to travel beyond the La
grange One Point (L1), a location about 932,000 miles (1.5 million kilomete
rs) from Earth where satellites currently observe the sun. "L1 provides a s
emistable orbit for persistent sun monitoring," Azeem explained. "But if yo
u want to go further, you need chemical rockets. Solar sails offer a cost-e
ffective alternative for moving upstream." By positioning satellites furthe
r ahead in the solar wind, NOAA estimates they could improve geomagnetic st
orm lead times by 50%.
At the American Meteorological Society's annual meeting, NOAA provided upda
tes on the Solar Cruiser project, a collaboration with NASA. The full-scale
solar sail, set to span 17,793 square feet (1,653 square meters), is under
construction. The spacecraft will include four sails, each built separatel
y, with completion expected by February 2026. NOAA aims to secure a ridesha
re launch by 2029. "I'm most excited about the complexity of integrating di
fferent disciplines," Azeem said. "Advances in material science and other f
ields are helping us push space weather monitoring to the next level."
[ANS thanks the Meredith Garofalo, Space.com<https://www.space.com/>, for t
he above information]
________________________________
[https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AMSAT-SDR-Gen2-
GNU-Radio-Based-Transverter.jpg]<https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content
/uploads/2025/02/AMSAT-SDR-Gen2-GNU-Radio-Based-Transverter.jpg>
________________________________
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for February 21, 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.
This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution
.
[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
Woodward Mill Elementary School, Lawrenceville, Georgia, direct via K4RGK
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Don Pettit KD5MDT
The ARISS mentor was K4RGK
Contact was successful: Thu 2025-02-20 16:37:28 UTC
Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/live/NfxlSEUOg6A
Congratulations to the Woodward Mill Elementary School students!
Royal Moroccan Air Academy, Marrakech, Morocco, direct via CN8ERA
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Don Pettit KD5MDT
The ARISS mentor was IN3GHZ
Contact was successful: Fri 2025-02-21 11:12:20 UTC
Congratulations to the Royal Moroccan Air Academy students!
+ Upcoming Contacts
None currently scheduled.
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
J68HZ (op: WA4PGM) active from 02/26 to 03/04 from grid square FK93.
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" would be a
ppropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint
(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.
Midwinter Madness Hamfest - March 22nd, 2025
Buffalo Civic Center
1306 County Road 134
Buffalo MN 55313
https://k0ltc.org/midwinter-madness/
KﾘJM, ADﾘHJ, KEﾘ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 A
mbassador Program, for the above information]
________________________________
AMSAT Remove Before Flight Key Tags Now Available
Yes, These are the Real Thing!
[https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Keytag1D-300x15
5.jpg]<https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_car_flag-256716714380264543>
Your $20 Donation Goes to Help Fly a Fox-Plus Satellite
Includes First Class Postage (Sorry - U.S. Addresses Only)
Order Today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-key
chain<https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain/>
________________________________
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ In 2024, NASA's Search and Rescue technologies contributed to saving 407
lives in the U.S., including 314 at sea, 41 in aviation incidents, and 52 t
hrough personal locator beacons. These efforts are part of the internationa
l Cospas-Sarsat satellite-aided search and rescue system, which has helped
save over 50,000 lives worldwide since 1982. Using GPS satellites, emergenc
y beacons transmit distress signals to the Cospas-Sarsat network, enabling
first responders to locate and rescue those in need. NASA's Search and Resc
ue Office, a division of the SCaN Program, has been involved in rescue oper
ations since 1979 and continues to enhance beacon technology for both Earth
-based and space missions. The Advanced Next-Generation Emergency Locator (
ANGEL) beacon is being developed to support crew recovery efforts, includin
g for Artemis missions returning from deep space. NASA collaborates with NO
AA, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Air Force, and other agencies to ensure
rapid response and rescue operations across land, sea, and air. (ANS thanks
NASA<https://www.nasa.gov/> for the above information)
+ NASA and SpaceX have decided to swap Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Crew-
10 mission, opting to use the previously flown Endurance instead of a newly
built capsule to prevent further delays. Endurance, which had been assigne
d to the private Ax-4 mission, will now support Crew-10, allowing the launc
h to be accelerated from late March to no earlier than March 12th. The orig
inal delay stemmed from setbacks in assembling and testing the new Crew Dra
gon, pushing the Crew-10 launch from February to March. Crew-9, currently o
n the ISS, will return a few days after Crew-10 arrives, bringing back NASA
astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, whose extended stay became a p
olitical topic after Elon Musk and former President Trump criticized the de
lay. Williams, however, dismissed claims that she and Wilmore were "abandon
ed," stating they were safe and had all necessary resources aboard the stat
ion. The change in spacecraft does not alter the Crew-10 lineup, commanded
by NASA astronaut Anne McClain, but it raises uncertainty about the Ax-4 mi
ssion timeline, which was originally planned for April. (ANS thanks SpaceNe
ws<https://spacenews.com/> for the above information)
+ NASA's SPHEREx telescope, set to launch no earlier than February 27th abo
ard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, will explore cosmic reservoirs of life's buil
ding blocks. It will scan space for water, carbon dioxide, and carbon monox
ide frozen onto interstellar dust grains, which exist in molecular clouds w
here stars and planets form. Scientists believe these icy reservoirs played
a crucial role in shaping Earth's oceans and other celestial bodies' water
content. Unlike previous telescopes that analyzed specific regions, SPHERE
x will conduct an extensive 3D spectral survey, identifying ice composition
s across different environments. The mission aims to resolve longstanding q
uestions about molecular cloud chemistry, particularly why previous mission
s, like SWAS, detected less gaseous water than expected. By working alongsi
de telescopes such as Webb, SPHEREx will refine our understanding of planet
formation and the distribution of essential life-building compounds across
the universe. (ANS thanks SpaceDaily<https://www.spacedaily.com/> for the
above information)
+ SpaceX is preparing for its eighth Starship launch (IFT-8) by conducting
crucial static fire tests at its Starbase facility in Texas. The company re
cently ignited all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster and complet
ed a dynamic engine test for the Starship stage to simulate various in-flig
ht conditions. These tests mark a key milestone before the vehicle's final
stacking, where the two massive components will be joined for launch. Once
stacked, the fully integrated Starship and Super Heavy system will stand an
impressive 403 feet (123 meters) tall, making it the most powerful rocket
ever built. Starship's previous test flight, IFT-7, had mixed results, with
a successful booster catch but a loss of communication with the Starship s
tage, which ultimately disintegrated over the Caribbean. SpaceX continues t
o refine the vehicle with each iteration, incorporating new hardware to imp
rove performance and reliability. While IFT-8 could launch by the end of Fe
bruary, the schedule remains dependent on FAA approval and final preparatio
ns. (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.
* Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half-time status shal
l be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years
in this status.
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.
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73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
This week's ANS Editor, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADﾘHJ
mahrenstorff [at] amsat.org<https://www.amsat.org>
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