Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1876 - July 26 2013   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1876 with a release date of July 26 2013   
   to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T. Ham radio will share a ride to space on a pair of   
   joint mission satellites; a pico balloon remains aloft for over 70 hours;   
   Massachusetts looks to enact an anti pirate radio law and Lithium battery   
   safety is once again a major concern. Find out the details are on Amateur   
   Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1876 coming your way right   
   now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO NEAR SPACE: HAM RADIO TRACKED PICO BALLOON ALOFT MORE THAN 70 HOURS   
      
   A possible new record for the flight of a ham radio tracked pico balloon.   
   Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the Newsroom with more:   
      
   --   
      
   Flying pico balloons appears to be the latest interest by ham radio operators   
   and other near-space explorers. A pico balloon is essentially one of those   
   silverized party balloons fitted with an ultra-light-weight amateur radio   
   payload and designed for long distance medium altitude flight. And now   
   comes word that a pico balloon launched in the United Kingdon managed to   
   stay aloft for some 70 hours while it floated across the English Channel,   
   made several north to south round trips in France before its signal was   
   lost about 80 miles North-East of Paris.   
      
   Dubbed simply B 6 the tiny craft was launched from Silverstone in the UK at   
   18:40 UTC on Sunday, July 14th. It initially headed south approaching Paris   
   before it changed direction and headed north again. On the evening of July   
   16th it was still aloft and transmitting over northern France, at an   
   altitude of about 11,000 feet. It then turned south once again, before doing   
   yet another loop and then going East and passing just North of Paris before   
   radio contact was lost.   
      
   The B 6 payload weighed in at just 20.2 grams. It contained a GPS receiver   
   along with the 10 milliwatt transmitter on 434.500 MHz running the amateur   
   radio Domino EX 16 data mode. Power was supplied by a single AA size   
   battery which in itself may also prove to be an endurance record of sorts   
   for a single cell powering a long distance flight. But for that we will have   
   to see what those who keep the record books have to say.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the Newsroom   
   in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   Leo Bondar who launched the pico balloon tells Amateur Radio Newsline that he   
   is not himself a radio amateur but has long been an avid shortwave listener.   
   He adds that ballooning has rekindled his interest in ham radio and radio   
   equipment building so he just press ahead and get a license after all those   
   years spent just listening. Also, a posting on the balloon flight website   
   indicates that he did work with some four dozen hams from the U-K, France   
   and several other European nations who were involved in tracking the flight   
   in real time. More information on its epic voyage including any late   
   updates is on the web at tinyurl.com/balloon-b6. (Southgate, Leo Bondar)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: JOINT SCIENCE AND HAM RADIO TRANSPONDER PAYLOADS TO   
   LAUNCH 2014   
      
   A consortium headquartered in the United Kingdom plans to launch a set of   
   shared purpose ham radio and scientific research cubesats early next year.   
   Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   It was announced during the QB 50 presentation at the recent AMSAT-UK   
   International Space Colloquium that two CubeSats, carrying SSB, CW and FM   
   voice transponders could be launched into a 600 km or 370 mile orbit in the   
   first half of 2014.   
      
   The QB 50 project team says that on July 19th, it had signed a Memorandum of   
   Understanding with AMSAT-UK, AMSAT-Francophone, and AMSAT-NL to enable two   
   amateur radio payloads to fly on a pair of CubeSats. These are mission   
   precursor mini-satellites which whose purpose is to permit the testing of   
   key satellite and payload components ahead of the full QB 50 mission.   
      
   The primary objective of the QB 50 mission is the study the temporal and   
   spatial variations of a number of key parameters in the Earth's lower   
   thermosphere doing so with a network of about 40 double CubeSats. These   
   mini-birds will be launched into a 320 kilometer or 210 mile high circular   
   orbit. They will be separated by a few hundred feet and carry identical   
   science sensors. These will monitor parameters that will greatly increase   
   our knowledge and understanding of this little explored region of the E and   
   F layers of the Ionosphere.   
      
   QB 50 will also study the re-entry process by measuring a number of key   
   parameters during re-entry and by comparing predicted and actual CubeSat   
   trajectories and orbital lifetimes.   
      
   At the beginning of the mission, the various payloads onboard the spacecraft   
   will be operated in an alternating fashion. Later on the amateur radio   
   transponders will be operated as the primary mission once all QB 50 related   
   experimentation has been concluded.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, watching the   
   nighttime sky from Scottsdale, Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   By combining the ham radio and scientific missions together it means that   
   both will reach orbit at a cost affordable. More information about the QB   
   50 project can be found at www.qb50.eu   
   (AMSAT UK, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: UKUBE ONE GIVEN TENTATIVE OCTOBER LAUNCH DATE   
      
   In a related story the Amsat News Service reports that the UKube-1 CubeSat   
   carrying an amateur radio transponder as a part of its payload could launch   
   in late October. As previously reported, UKube-1 will carry a set of   
   AMSAT-UK designed FUNcube-2 boards. These will provide the ham radio   
   community with a 70 centimeter up and 2 meter downlink linear transponder   
   for SSB/CW operation along with a 1200 bps BPSK telemetry beacon on 145.915   
   MHz. The actual satellite is being constructed in Scotland by Clyde Space   
   with its launch to take place from Kazikstan on-board a Russian Soyuz 2   
   orbital booster. (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO POLITICS: BI-PARTISAN REQUEST TO NTIA TO ASSURE THE FREEING UP   
   SPECTRUM   
      
   In a rare bi-partisan move, Senators Mario Rubio of Florida and Mark Warner   
   from Virginia have asked National Telecommunications and Information Agency   
   chief Larry Strickling for answers on what the agency is doing to free up   
   government spectrum. This in light of President Obama's June 14th memo on   
   motivating wireless innovation and in light of a Government Accounting   
   Office study from April 2011 that concluded NTIA cannot ensure that spectrum   
   is being used efficiently by federal agencies and has limited ability to   
   monitor federal spectrum use.   
      
   In a letter to Strickling dated July 19th, a copy of which was supplied to   
   the press by Warner's office, the two wanted that question and severa others   
   answered. The letter also notes that - and we quote: "without effective   
   NTIA management and oversight, we have serious reservations about the   
   agency's ability to maximize spectrum efficiency and relinquish portions of   
   federal spectrum."   
      
   The FCC is preparing to auction as much as 120 MHz of commercial spectrum   
   reclaimed from broadcasters but this is likely to be reduced to 80 MHZ or   
   less given Canadian and Mexican border issues. This matter is also of   
   importance to the ham radio community because much of the spectrum it has at   
   420 MHz and above is on a secondary basis and is shared with government and   
   military users. (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW FOLLOW-UP: DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AT STANDOFF ON FCC REFORM   
      
   A follow-up to last weeks report on another congressional attempt to   
   streamline the FCC The House Communications Subcommittee wrapped up its FCC   
   reform hearing Thursday, July 11th, but continuing partisan politics seem   
   still be standing in the way of any meaningful change. Amateur Radio   
   Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   The subject of the hearing was Republican backed draft measures similar to   
   legislation that passed in the House last year only to fail to get Senate   
   attention.   
      
   On one side of the bills were Republican legislators who argued that they   
   were necessary to speed FCC decision making, tie it to a cost-benefit   
   analysis of any new regulations, improve transparency and limit the FCC's   
   ability to impose merger conditions that they suggest are a vehicle for   
   backdoor regulations.   
      
   On the other side are Democrats who in effect said the committee was wasting   
   its time debating bills similar, and even more burdensome, than ones that   
   had failed to get a legal toehold in the past.   
      
   Committee ranking Democrat Henry Waxman was quoted as saying that the   
   legislation was a way to undermine the FCC's ability to adopt new rules and   
   protect consumers. He said that the only thing it would efficiently speed   
   up would be endless legal challenges. Waxman also noted that the dozen new   
   mandates in the proposed law would, among other things, would remove the   
   public interest standard and slow the FCC process to a crawl.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline. I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berewick,   
   Pennsylvania.   
      
   --   
      
   Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, W7EQI, is the one who called the hearings.   
   He said that the communications sector is one of the few that is firing on   
   all cylinders, but that the current FCC process threatens the health of this   
   segment of the economy. That said, in this congressional session there is   
   little sign that Republicans and Democrats can come together to reach an   
   accord. (Connect2.com and other published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the   
   world including the W0EF repeater serving Minneapolis, Minnesota.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   HAM TECHNOLOGY: BROADBAND-HAMNET(tm) SOFTWARE WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARDS   
      
   An interesting ham radio communications concept developed mainly by hams in   
   Texas interested in automated emergency communications has been awarded a   
   pair of important prizes. Jim Davis, W2JKD, has the story:   
      
   --   
      
   Broadband-Hamnet, formerly HSMM-MESH firmware, developed by amateur radio   
   operators to provide hams with a high-speed digital wireless communication   
   mesh network, has won both US and global awards from the International   
   Association of Emergency Managers.   
      
   The USA Council of the designated Broadband Hamnet as a Division 2 Technology   
   and Innovation Award winner. It then went on to win the International   
   Association of Emergency Managers Global Technology and Innovation Award in   
   the same division.   
      
   Broadband-Hamnet as "a high-speed, self-discovering, self-configuring,   
   fault-tolerant, wireless computer network. It has very low power   
   consumption and a focus on emergency communication. The firmware itself is   
   available at no charge via the project website hsmm-mesh.org   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Davis, W2JKD.   
      
   --   
      
   The awards will be presented to Broadband-Hamnet in October at the   
   International Association of Emergency Managers annual conference in Reno,   
   Nevada. A demonstration of how it works can be seen in the ARRL video The   
   DIY Magic of Amateur Radio. It's on the web at   
   tinyurl.com/ham-radio-diy-magic (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: MASSACHUSETTS LOOKS TO ENACT ANTI PIRATE RADIO LAW   
      
   Massachusetts is the latest state to follow the lead of Florida, New York and   
   New Jersey to enact laws that would permit the prosecution of unlicensed   
   broadcast radio station operators. This with word that State Representative   
   Steven Walsh has introduced H.R. 1679, which would give the state attorney   
   general the power to seek action against radio pirates, including seizing   
   equipment and seeking heavy money damages.   
      
   Specifically, the measure would prohibit any unauthorized radio   
   telecommunication or emission to, or interference with, a public or   
   commercial radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission.   
   The key to excluding other services such as police, fire and even amateur   
   radio from inclusion under the proposal seems to be the words licensed by   
   the Federal Communications Commission.   
      
   As previously reported, last January the U.S. Attorney's Office for   
   Massachusetts seized transmission equipment from an unlicensed station   
   operating in the city of Roslindale. The FCC then escalated the case into a   
   forfeiture action and that's when the office of the U.S. Attorney for   
   Massachusetts became involved. (RW, Broadcast Daily, others)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: BROADCAST TRANSMITTER CREATES SPURS IN AVIATION BAND IN NEW   
   ZEALAND   
      
   A recent investigation of interference to communications between pilots and   
   the control tower for aircraft approaching Auckland airport in New Zealand,   
   highlights the risk of unintended signals being generated as an unwanted   
   side effect of radio broadcasting. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen   
   reports from down-under:   
      
   --   
      
   The investigation took several weeks to complete because of the low signal   
   level and intermittent observations of the interference. Locating it   
   involved considerable staff resources from the New Zealand Radio Spectrum   
   Management agency as well as their renting an aircraft and pilot to locate   
   the source from the air.   
      
   When found the problem proved to be an unwanted spurious emission from an FM   
   broadcast transmitter in a community to the north of Auckland. The problem   
   was quickly repaired by the broadcaster.   
      
   In this case the interference was not considered to be an immediate safety   
   risk because of the availability of alternative aircraft radio   
   communications channels. It did however present a significant annoyance and   
   distraction to pilots flying into and out of the city.   
      
   A recent study by the New Zealands's neighbor across the Tasman Sea confirms   
   the same problem exists in VK land. According to the Australian   
   Communications and Media Authority about 28% of the transmitters it checked   
   showed the production of unwanted emissions with many radiated in the   
   aeronautical radio-communication band. As such these spurs do hold a   
   potential risk to the safe operation of aircraft.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, in Nelson, New   
   Zealand.   
      
   --   
      
   Auckland Airport is a major airline hub in New Zealand. It serves domestic   
   airline flights as well as a transfer point for passengers going on to other   
   locations. (Southgate, ARNewsline(tm))   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: GOV.DELIVERY TO DISCONTINUE DISSEMINATING NWS WEATHER ALERTS   
      
   If you are involved in emergency communications activities and use the   
   GovDelivery e-mail service service listen up. GovDelivery has announced   
   that it will discontinue disseminating National Weather Service weather   
   alerts effective July 31, 2013.   
      
   GovDelivery is a self-subscription service used to deliver e-mail and   
   SMS/text notifications to the general public and has contracts with many   
   government agencies. The National Weather Service began using GovDelivery in   
   2008 but terminated its contract with GovDelivery in November of 2012, due   
   to budget constraints.   
      
   At the time of the National Weather Service contract termination GovDelivery   
   continued distribute weather alert information using a similar   
   e-subscription service. NWS subscribers were notified about the change and   
   offered the opportunity to subscribe to GovDelivery's free service as well   
   as to other third party weather alert services. However, due to the   
   substantial costs of providing a high reliability messaging service at this   
   scale GovDelivery cannot continue the free service.   
      
   More information on the discontinuance of GovDelivery NWS alerts and several   
   free alternatives to it are on the web at tinyurl.com/gov-delivery-ends.   
   (NOAA)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO BUSINESS: ALINCO NOW REPRESENTED BY REMTRONIX   
      
   George Howard, NW4G, who is the Amateur Radio Division Manager at GigaParts   
   says that he has received word that Alinco is back up and running and its   
   products began shipping on July 17th.   
      
   In a posting to QRZ.com, Howard says that distribution is now being handled   
   by a company called Remtronix Incorporated with a website at   
   www.remtronix.com. A web search shows Remtronix to be located in Hayward   
   California not that far from San Francisco.   
      
   Howard also says that he has received word of several price reductions as   
   well as announcement of the launch of the new Software Defined Radio based   
   DX-SR9T high frequency transceiver. (NW4G via QRZ)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: VE3CWP NAMED RAC CORPORATE SECRETARY   
      
   Radio Amateurs of Canada has named Alvin Masse, VE3CWP, as its new Corporate   
   Secretary. In making the announcement, Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW, who is the   
   national society's President and Chairman said that Masse brings with him a   
   wealth of organizational skills, history and wisdom and will be a great   
   benefit to the organization. VE3CWP replaces Linda Friars, VE9GLF, who   
   served as Acting Corporate Secretary until Masse's appointment. (RAC)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: SARL TO EXHIBIT AT ESKOM EXPO FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS   
      
   The South African Radio League will be an exhibitor at the 2013 Eskom Expo   
   for Young Scientists. The event takes place from September 25th to 28th and   
   will include both an operational High Frequency as well as a VHF station.   
   The South African Radio League will also be sponsoring a special award at   
   the Expo for best final entry in the field of RF and electronics.   
      
   The Eskom Expo was founded by the late Dr. Derek Gray in 1980. Since then it   
   has provided an opportunity for school students from primary to grade 12,   
   who have an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to   
   exhibit their projects and to be judged on their skills and enthusiasm for   
   science. (SARL)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: MICROWAVE UPDATE 2013 SEEKS PRESENTERS   
      
   Microwave Update or MUD 2013 which takes place October 18th and 19th at   
   Morehead State Space Science Center in Moorehead, Kentucky. The planners   
   have put out a call seeking papers to be presented at the event. Papers can   
   be up to 10 pages in length. If you wish to be a presenter please send your   
   proposal to mud (at) downeastmicrowave (dot) come before August 30th.   
   (WA3ZKR)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: NEW FACEBOOK PAGE TO SCHEDULE SKEDS   
      
   A new group has been formed on Facebook for hams wishing to schedule contacts   
   with other amateurs world-wide. If you need a particular contact for an   
   award, or just a chat, then go to facebook.com/groups/hamsked and have a   
   look. (GB2RS)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 2   
      
   With you 52 weeks a year, every year since 1977, we are the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline with links to the world from our only official website at   
   www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the volunteer services of the   
   following radio amateur:   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: LITHIUM BATTERY SAFETY   
      
   Much of today's latest portable electronics including ham radio gear is   
   powered by Lithium or Lithium Ion batteries. But these same batteries have   
   also become a safety concern as we hear from Graham Kemp, VK4BB:   
      
   --   
      
   Lithium batteries are undoubtedly popular going by their wide use in consumer   
   products, and even higher powered models in electric vehicles. However they   
   have been linked to fires, illicit drug makers and medical problems.   
      
   The recent death of a toddler in Queensland, Australia and others injured   
   after swallowing them, has again focused attention on the common power   
   source.   
      
   From January 2013 stricter regulations for the carriage of Lithium batteries   
   by air travelers were introduced best check with your airline for the rules.   
      
      
   A battery can also be a convenient source of lithium metal used in illegal   
   methamphetamine laboratories. Sales of larger quantities are restricted for   
   this reason in some areas.   
      
   International industry standards for button batteries are soon to be   
   introduced as an urgent safety measure. These are likely to include   
   strengthened consumer education about the dangers and child-restraint   
   packaging for the cell batteries.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB. Of the WIA News, in   
   Australia.   
      
   --   
      
   The bottom line is that when using these Lithium batteries as a source of   
   power for anything electronic that it is important to think safety first.   
   (VK3PC, WIA News)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: 2ND INTERNATIONAL YOUTH MEETING FRIEDRICHSHAFEN   
      
   IARU Region 1 reports that the 2nd International Youth Meeting was held on   
   Saturday, June 29th. The event featured several lectures including one by   
   Tommy Degrande, ON2TD. He is the Belgian Youth Coordinator of that nations   
   national Amateur Radio Society the UBA. He spoke about youth activities in   
   Belgium   
      
   Other presenters included Remko Welling, PE1MEW, who servers as the Scouting   
   Jamboree on the Air Coordinator in the Netherlands and Mari Nikkila, OH2FPK,   
   who is the Finnish Amateur Radio Youth Coordinator.   
      
   The International Youth Meeting was timed to coincide with the 2013 Ham Radio   
   Convention held on the shores of Lake Constance in Friedrichshafen, Germany.   
   More can be found on the web at www.iaru-r1.org (IARU Region 1)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ISS CONTACT PLANNING SOFTWARE GETS UPDATE BY NASA INTERN   
      
   The Amsat News Service reports that the ARISS software has been upgraded by a   
   student named Nolan Replogle who interned with the Education Projects Office   
   at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston from January to April of this   
   year.   
      
   During his stay his assignment was to update the planning software for the   
   Amateur Radio on the International Space Station which is used to help   
   schedule contacts and events. The original software's lack of a user   
   interface meant that people needed to input data directly into text files,   
   and then run the program to see if it worked. Replogle, a computer   
   engineering major at Oklahoma State University used his programming skills   
   to create a more user-friendly interface for the software.   
      
   Replogle named the upgraded software ARISS Assistant or ARRISA for short.   
   With his updates, there is now a graphic user interface that allows users to   
   click on buttons to enter information into text boxes. This automated   
   feature is more intuitive and requires a lot less data entry.   
      
   Replogle has not yet had the chance to speak with an astronaut on-orbit, but   
   he says that he would like to. Now thanks in part to the work he did as a   
   NASA intern, other students around the world will have a better chance to   
   have live contacts with International Space Station and its ham radio   
   astronauts. (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: INDIA HOLDS SMALL SATELLITE WORKSHOP   
      
   India's National Institute of Amateur Radio was co sponsor of a Small   
   Satellite Developer Workshop event organized by Dhruva Space held July 8th   
   to the 13th. Satellite experts had engineering models on display to help   
   participants understand the challenges found in designing and developing the   
   subsystems of small satellites. A full report on this gathering can be   
   found on the web at tinyurl.com/SmallSatelliteWorkshop2013. (NAIR)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SCOTLAND PORTABLE SATELLITE OPERATION IN AUGUST   
      
   Paul Robinson, 2E1EUB, will once again be on the air from Scotland as 2M1EUB   
   for 14 days beginning August 5th. He will be driving around that nation   
   while listening out for anyone looking for grid squares that they have not   
   worked yet, especially on the satellites. His operation will be several ham   
   radio birds including AO-7 running modes B to A as well as on 160, 80 and 2   
   meter SSB. Robinson says that he will arrange skeds to work him. To   
   arrange one e-mail him at 2e1eub (at) amsat.org. Check out QRZ.com under   
   2M1EUB for more information and the latest updates. (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, word that the ARRL has announced several Colvin Award grants to help   
   support three upcoming DXpeditions. The recipients are the K9W Wake Atoll   
   operation scheduled for September through October and the T33A Banaba Island   
   for November. Also named is the FT5ZM Amsterdam Island DXpedition planned   
   for January through February of 2014.   
      
   PH2M will be active as PJ4M from the island of Bonaire between September 13th   
   to the 26th. Operations will be on the High Frequency bands. QSL via his   
   home callsign direct or via the bureau\   
      
   N0TG, AA4VK and N1SNB will be active stroke FS from St. Martin between   
   October 24th to the 31st. This operation will likely mirror probably their   
   PJ7 DXpedition which was described as a suitcase operation on 40 through 10   
   meters using CW and SSB, with wire antennas and 100 watts. QSL all operators   
   via AA4VK.   
      
   IZ1DPS will be operational stroke HC from Ecuador through January 12th, 2014.   
   Activity will be on the HF bands. QSL via IK2DUW, direct, by the Bureau or   
   Logbook of the World only.   
      
   A team composed of six French DXers will be operating as TM2NOI from   
   Noirmoutier Island from August 9th to the 11th. The team will try to be   
   active from 160 through 10 meters using CW, SSB and several digital modes.   
   Particular interest will be paid to the Islands on the Air calling   
   frequencies. QSL direct or via the bureau to F4FVI.   
      
   Lastly, Members from the F6KOP Radio Club team will be active as TO7CC from   
   Reunion Island between February 5th to the 17th, 2014. Their operation   
   will be on all bands and modes, with an emphasis on the lower bands and   
   RTTY. The group says that more details will be forthcoming.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: SEND A PERSONAL MESSAGE TO THE MOON   
      
   And finally this week, have you ever thought of sending your own spacecraft   
   to the Moon? Well until now such a trip was out of the reach of almost   
   everyone here on planet Earth. But that's all changing thanks to a new   
   citizen oriented space project as we hear in this report from the Wireless   
   Institute of Australia:   
      
   --   
      
   A new project to give thousands of people the opportunity to design, build   
   and launch personalised spacecraft and send them to the moon has begun.   
      
   Now anyone can become a citizen space explorer at a cost of USD159,   
   explorers who back the project will be able to personalise their own   
   spacecraft by adding a picture or message direct from their favourite   
   social media or game profile or create their own unique design.   
      
   Pocket Spacecraft are disks with flexible electronics, smaller than a CD and   
   as thin as a piece of paper, that will be loaded into an Interplanetary   
   CubeSat mothership to hitch a ride into space on a commercial rocket. The   
   mothership will then set off to the moon and when it arrives many months   
   later, the fleet of Pocket Spacecraft will be photographed as they are   
   released to land on the moon to complete their mission.   
      
   Anyone can take part in the mission via the crowd-funding site   
   PocketSpacecraft.com   
      
   The campaign ends on August 26, 2013.   
      
   --   
      
   Anyone can take part in the mission via the crowd-funding web site   
   PocketSpacecraft.com. And who knows? If this idea works as planned you   
   could be the first ham radio operator on your block or in your community to   
   vicariously make a trip to the Moon. Well at least, kind of. (WIA News)   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE   
      
   With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine,   
   the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the   
   Southgate News, TWiT-TV and Australia's WIA News, that's all from the   
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is newsline (at) arnewsline   
   (dot) org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's(tm)   
   only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to   
   us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa   
   Clarita California, 91350   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Skeeter Nash,   
   N5ASH, near Houston, Texas, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.   
      
      
   ***   
      
   As a Service to the HAM Radio Community and Ham Operators all around the   
   world, this Amateur Radio Newline(tm) message has been gated from the internet   
   and posted to you by Waldo's Place USA, 1:3634/12. We hope you enjoyed it!   
      
   Please address all comments and questions to the ARNewsletter editor as   
   described in this posting. If you have any specific questions concerning   
   the actual posting of this message service, you may address them to   
   hamfdn -at- wpusa.dynip.com.   
      
   Thank you and good day!   
      
   -73-   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)