[TWIAR] AMSAT News for TWIAR

[Greg Williams]

>From AMSAT.org

President's Message on Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107 Loss
It is with great sadness that I have learnt of the Columbia disaster. AMSAT
has always been a strong supporter of the Shuttle program and of ARISS. We
have had many interactions with the astronauts who have fearlessly ridden
the shuttle into space, currently several are AMSAT members and supporters.

On this sad occasion on behalf of the Board of Directors, officers and
members of AMSAT I wish to send our deep sympathy to the families, relatives
and friends of those who undertook this Columbia mission, their
understanding of the risks taken on this and other missions did not prevent
them from performing at the highest level and unfortunately paying the
ultimate price.

To our friends at NASA, we at AMSAT send our understanding and our sympathy,
knowing that the exploration of space and carrying out important experiments
for the benefit of humanity will continue to be your mission.

Robin Haighton VE3FRH
President AMSAT

[ANS thanks Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, for the above information.]

Shuttle Columbia Crew
Our sympathies and prayers are with the family, friends, and other loved
ones of the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia, lost over the southern United
States at approximately 1400 UTC February 1, 2003.

David M. Brown, KC5ZTC - Mission Specialist
Kalpana Chawla, KD5ESI - Mission Specialist
Laurel Clark, KC5ZSU - Mission Specialist
Rick D. Husband - Commander
William C. McCool - Pilot
Michael P. Anderson - Payload Commander
Ilan Ramon - Payload Specialist

Peace.
ANS editor

[ANS thanks Scott Lindsey-Stevens, N3ASA, for the above information.]

SORCE Successfully Launched
NASA successfully launched the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment
(SORCE) spacecraft Saturday, January 26. The satellite was sent into orbit
via a Pegasus rocket dropped from an airplane flying over the Atlantic.

SORCE's planned 5 year mission will measure the sun's x-ray, ultraviolet,
near-infrared, and total radiation. Further information can be found at the
mission's official website http://lasp.colorado.edu/sorce/.

[ANS thanks NASA for the above information.]

Starshine's Final Flare
Starshine 3, the 91 kilogram "disco ball" in space, burned up in the Earth's
upper atmosphere sometime between 0504 and 0519 UTC on January 21, 2003. It
had made 7434 revolutions around the earth between the date of its launch on
September 29, 2001 and its fiery end. The exact location of its flameout is
still uncertain, but its final half orbit carried it in a northeasterly
direction over the states of California, Nevada, Idaho and Montana in the
U.S., then across the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in
western Canada, then in an easterly direction across Hudson's Bay, Baffin
Island and the southern tip of Greenland.

The highly reflective Starshine was designed to be easily seen as it passed
overhead during dawn and dusk. Its purpose was to inspire school children's
interest in science. Amateur radio operators could also monitor its 145.825
MHz transmitter.

Further information on Starshine 3 and the continuing project can be found
at http://www.azinet.com/starshine/.

[ANS thanks Gil Moore of Project Starshine for the above information.]

GPS Satellite Launched
Another satellite, GPS IIR-8, was added to the GPS constellation on
Wednesday, January 29. The satellite was launched by a Delta 2 rocket with
"Let's Roll" painted on the nose cone.

[ANS thanks Space Daily & CNN.com for the above information.]

Pakistan Announces First Satellite
Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf said Saturday, January 25 that Pakistan
would put a home-built communication and surveillance satellite into orbit
in three years. "Pakistan's satellite will not only meet its communication
needs but will also be an earth observation satellite for our national
interests," the state run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted the
president as saying.

[ANS thanks Space Daily for the above information.]

ISS Fan Club Processes First Batch of Awards
The ISS Fan Club announced that it processed the first batch of awards.
These awards are given to amateur radio operators who contact the
International Space Station via voice or packet as well as shortwave
listeners who listen in on voice or packet transmissions.

Further information can be found at http://www.issfanclub.com/.

[ANS thanks Claudio, IK1SLD, for the above information.]