SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS004   
   ARLS004 Hams Invited to Track Satellites   
      
   ZCZC AS04     
   QST de W1AW     
   Space Bulletin 004  ARLS004   
   From ARRL Headquarters     
   Newington, CT  March 16, 2011   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB SPACE ARL ARLS004   
   ARLS004 Hams Invited to Track Satellites   
      
   In November 2010, five research satellites were carried to orbit   
   aboard a Minotaur V rocket from Kodiak Island, Alaska. Two of these   
   satellites -- FASTRAC 1, known as "Sara Lily" and FASTRAC 2,   
   referred to as "Emma" -- entered orbit as a single nanosatellite,   
   but on March 15, scientists sent the command to have them separate.   
      
   According to FASTRAC Student Program Manager Sebastian Munoz,   
   KE5FKV, students at the University of Texas will be confirming the   
   separation as the satellites pass: "We started one of the most   
   exciting phases of our project by separating both of our girls so   
   that they can compute on-orbit real-time relative navigation   
   solutions while both of them are freely drifting from one another."   
      
   Munoz said that they will continue to update the satellites' two   
   line elements (TLEs) on their website for those radio amateurs   
   interested in tracking the two nanosatellites. "I want to thank the   
   ham community all over the world for supporting our project," Munoz   
   said. "Your support has been incredible and we really value it. We   
   really appreciate all of your help so far and we hope that we can   
   continue to count on it."   
      
   The FASTRAC website with the current TLEs can be found at:   
      
   http://fastrac.ae.utexas.edu/for_radio_operators/users/phpBB3/pr   
   dictedorbit.php   
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
   ---   
                                   ========   
      
   IF you have questions or concerns regarding the accuracy   
   of information posted, or the opinions expressed, contact the content   
   originators directly.   All publications retransmitted as   
   fidonet echomail without alteration other than the removal of   
   email header and other control information which   
   is not part of the actual publication.   
      
   Improve your skills as an emergency communications volunteer.   
   CHeck out EMCOMM MONTHLY.  Visit