DX Envy?

L>R Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH; Tom Marshburn, KE5HOC; Raja Chari, KI5LIU;Kayla Barron, KI5LAL

Imagine the best DXpedition you could imagine on Earth. You get to
be with an elite group of radio amateurs, go on a long journey to
get to a rare location on the earth, just to make as many contacts
as you can.

Now imagine a remote location and speed. Imagine DXing at over
12,000 miles per hour!

Just announced by SpaceX and NASA is the next group of four
astronauts who will travel to the International Space
Station for a six-month stay traveling via a Falcon 9 rocket and
Dragon capsule. The astronauts all happen to be licensed hams. They
are Raja Chari, KI5LIU; Tom Marshburn, KE5HOC;
Kayla Barron, KI5LAL, and Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH. The mission
launch is targeted for April 15, 2022.

Follow and find out more at:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/tag/spacex-crew-3/

SpaceX Crew 3 Mission Patch

Replacing Arecibo? [ with something Far Out! ]

National Science Foundation Arecibo Radio Telescope

Alas, the Arecibo Radio Telescope [http://www.naic.edu/ao/ ] in
Puerto Rico is no longer in operation due to its collapse in December 2020.
The 305-meter telescope was in service for 57 years and withstood
hurricanes, earthquakes, and tropical storms.

Engineers determined that all three of the telescope’s support
towers broke off, sending the 900-ton instrument falling onto the
dish below.

Introducing FarView.

NASA’s FarSide Lunar Crater Radio Telescope

NASA has proposed a lunar far-side dipole. The mother of all
dipoles is proposed as 20×20 kilometers. Yes, kilometers, about
12.42 miles by 12.42 miles of the lunar surface.

Imagine about 100,000 interlinked dipole antennas in your backyard!

NASA also proposed to build the dipole on-site with lunar materials. A frequency range of 5-40 MHz. The subject for the antenna will be focused initially on the unexplored Cosmic Dark Ages and identifying conditions and processes under which the first stars, galaxies, and accreting black holes formed. No equivalent observatory exists today on Earth.

Find out more by visiting the program page at NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/2021_Phase_I/FarView/

Save The Date! for AT on the Air! Saturday, October 2

AT On The Air
Appalachian Trail On The Air event

Set your calendar, get off your couch and go chase or activate a
spot on the Appalachian Trail or Park on the Air.

Saturday October 2, 2021 from 12:00-21:00 [ 8AM-5PM Eastern Time ] join operators for Appalachian Trail [ A.T] On the Air Day.

An idea by WB2FUV, Mike, in celebration of the Appalachian National
Scenic Trail, licensed amateur radio operators are invited to take
their two-way portable radios to the Trail on Saturday, October 2,
2021, for an on-the-air get-together. The goal is to contact other
amateur (“ham”) radio operators either along the Trail or elsewhere
in North America (or beyond) and to showcase our amateur radio
hobby.

Mike wants you to know that, at the moment, this is a spontaneous activity and is not sanctioned or endorsed by any national or regional organization. It is not a contest; it is a get-together.

Find out more by visiting https://atontheair.com

9/16/21 Special Presentation

Our regular club meeting on Sept. 16, 2021 will be via Zoom, and there will be a special video presentation entitled, “RF Exposure and the new FCC Rules.”  The presentation is from the ARRL and delivered by Dan Brown, W1DAN and cohosted by Ed Hare, W1RFI.

The Zoom link will be sent out to members before the meeting. The Secretary also sends it to a list of non-members who have asked to attend as guests. If you’d like to receive an email with the Zoom link, please use the contact form on this website and we’ll add you to the list.

Flying COWs?

During Hurricane Ida, AT&T deployed COWs, but not the type of flying bovines you could imagine. These COWs are known as Cell-on-Wings. The tethered unlimited power drone provides cellular LTE coverage for an area of up to 40 square miles and a further data and voice connection via satellite uplink to AT&T’s network to connect information outside of the affected area. The drones are deployed in a disaster areas to provide a cellular and data bridge to the internet for AT&T’s First Responder “FIRSTNET” network. The drone has been previously tested and deployed by AT&T to other disaster areas, and its design modified over the years to provide additional coverage such as thermal cameras, weather, and wind resistance with the capacity for more sensors. Power is supplied for a continuous flight from the tether and is monitored by an FCC-licensed drone pilot during deployment. 

Imagine the possibilities of a tethered drone during your next Field Day operating a vertical on 80, 160, 630, or 2200 meters; or in service to your community for search and rescue operations, supporting triathlons, bicycle races, and more! 

Read more at Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/flying-cows-bring-cell-service-to-areas-impacted-natural-disasters-2021-8#the-tether-also-provides-constant-power-to-the-flying-cow-via-a-fiber-giving-the-drone-unlimited-flight-time-3

Read More about COW’s from AT&T:

FirstNet Flying COW™ Takes First Flight to Help Santa Clara County Sheriff Search & Rescue Stay Mission-Ready https://about.att.com/innovationblog/2019/12/fn_santa_clara_flying_cow.html

When COWs Fly: AT&T Sending LTE Signals from Drones https://about.att.com/innovationblog/cows_fly

Extreme Connections https://about.att.com/innovationblog/extreme_connections