Multiple Balloons Carrying Ham Radio Payloads Launched

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Multiple Balloons Carrying Ham Radio Payloads Launched

Eleven schools across the US launched helium-filled balloons carrying amateur radio payloads on October 9. The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum live-streamed the multiple launches. The balloons are trackable via ham radio on APRS (either 144.39 MHz FM or 144.34 MHz FM).

The lighter-than-air vehicles were intended to head east around the globe, although there’s no accounting for upper air currents. Altitudes were expected to be in the 20,000 – 25,000-foot range, with the balloons taking a few days to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

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Chinese Amateur Radio Satellite Launches Delayed

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Chinese Amateur Radio Satellite Launches Delayed

CAMSAT says the CAS-7A launch has been postponed until next May, and CAS-5A until next June.

"Because of COVID-19, many things have been delayed," CAMSAT's Alan Kung, BA1DU, told ARRL. He said an announcement would be made closer to the announced launches.

CAMSAT said last spring that CAS-7A would launch in mid-September; the launch has been postponed multiple times since first announced.

CAS-5A was predicted to launch in October. Both satellites will carry two transponders that include HF, in a configuration similar to that of the Russian RS satellites decades ago.

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Two VU Hams Make Six FM satellite QSOs in Single Day

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While enjoying the AMSAT-UK OSCAR QSO Party from VU Land, 9th September 2020 proved to be a memorable day for myself Rajesh VU2EXP and Lucky VU2LBW from India.

We successfully worked via Six different FM Satellites in a single day from VU Land. It's a personal record for us for such satellite activities in the region. Some satellites were 18 year (SO-50) to 27 year (AO-27) old, which all favoured us.

The list of satellites we worked through were AO-91 (0650Z), PO-101 (0830Z), AO-27 (1305Z), SO-50 (1514Z), AO-92 (1712Z) & ARISS - ISS (1714Z). That's all the satellites I am getting from my region (ML52jh) & have capabilities to work with my portable setup consisting of a pair of HT & Homebrew IOio Antenna!

There were bit challenges like the uncertainty of AO-92 switching to L mode or turning on to safe mode during eclipse, some passes (AO-92 & ISS) were at the same time and in different directions, a low elevation of 3° ISS pass at VU2LBW's end, power failure at partners end for some moments, the possibility of rain which could have interrupted my portable operation etc! We did our best and continued chasing via each satellite & exchanged 59 reports from all 6 birds. It was an exciting experience for us. I am very thankful to VU2LBW for cooperating with lots of patience. I was on my portable setup operating from my terrace from where I benefited from the decent setup of VU2LBW located at MK82tv.

Rajkot (Gujarat) India - http://www.qrz.com/db/vu2exp