K5E - The 40th Anniversary Apollo 11 Satellte Special Event

K5E - The 40th Anniversary Apollo 11 Satellite Special Event

Hey everyone,


<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O< p O<>The special call sign K5E will go active on AO-7 at 13:32 UTC on July 16, 2009, and will remain active on the FM and CW/SSB satellites (and the ISS in packet or voice, if either system is active) through 16:50 UTC on July 24, 2009.
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Those dates and times coincide with the duration of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, which began 40 years ago next Thursday (July 16). K5E seemed the perfect choice for a special event call sign to celebrate the 40<SUP>th</SUP> anniversary of “one small step for man … one giant leap for mankind.”
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K - the 11<SUP>th</SUP> letter of the alphabet.
5 - the call district of Houston, location of Apollo 11 Mission Control.
E - Eagle, the Apollo 11 lunar module.
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On passes I work using the special call sign, I will ID as “Kilo 5 Eagle.”
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Glade Schroeter, WA3MVQ, is donating high-quality full-color QSL cards, which will be used to confirm all contacts with K5E. Stations wishing to confirm will send their request to me with an SASE. The card will be standard QSL size. I encourage any of you who need QSL cards now or in the future to visit Glade’s Web site at www.gggraphicsstore.com. I custom-designed the card, which features the Apollo 11 crew patch and a collage of photos representing highlights of the full mission, from liftoff to splashdown. I will have a lo-res copy of the card front posted to my QRZ.com page no later than Monday.
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Work K5E one time to claim a special QSL card. There will be no endorsements of any kind, and only one QSL will be issued per valid amateur call sign. Remember, WA3MVQ is donating these high-quality cards.
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This special event and operation will occur ONLY on the amateur satellites. Another group has organized the Echoes of Apollo program and will have a number of HF stations on the air during the weekend of July 20<SUP>th</SUP>, the date of the lunar landing. They also held a special EME event over Field Day weekend.
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I have no interest in creating any animosity with the Echoes of Apollo group. I’m just interested in giving us satellite operators the chance to celebrate the Apollo 11 mission and its 40<SUP>th</SUP> Anniversary. I hope as many of you as possible will join me.
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Also, please note that the Canada Museum of Science and Technology will operate as VE3MOON from July 14-27, per a post earlier today to the AMSAT-BB
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Thanks in advance to all.
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73,

Tim – N3TL
K5E – The 40<SUP>th</SUP> Anniversary Apollo 11 Satellite Special Event
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Satellite & Space operation.? Kind lets out about 99.5% of us doesn't it.?

 

Here's a link to the home of the group that has HF operations planned to commemorate Apollo 11.

http://echoesofapollo.com/


Also, VE3MOON from the Canada Museum of Science and Technology also will be active on HF.

You also might think about trying the satellites. You can work the available FM satellites with a dual-band HT and a homebrew or manufactured antenna. I earned Satellite VUCC with an HT and an Arrow antenna. I worked my 100th grid 28 days after I worked my first. It took me a lot longer to get all the cards back than to work the grids.

I felt like including HF would encroach on the Echoes of Apollo folks, and I have no interest in doing that. So, K5E will be satellite only.

73,

Tim - N3TL
K5E - The 40th Anniversary Apollo 11 Satellte Special Event

 

let's out 99.5%? Maybe it's time to try something new....a new mode, or get with someone that IS capable of working this guy. Fantastic idea, OM. I hope to work your station.

73,
Erv W8ERV

 

Thank you Erv. I'll be listening for you!

73,

Tim - N3TL
K5E - The 40th Anniversary Apollo 11 Satellite Special Event

 

Well,If you want to supply me with the equipment I won't turn it down.

 

The Eagle has landed ...

When it was happening, I was in the back of my Avionics shop at Long Thanh (North) with a spare ARC-102, tuning in the HF tracking net at 15.016 MHz.

"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind..."

Quite a thrill.

When video tapes were flown into VN from the Phillipines for rebroadcast, the plane had fighter escort.

WHERES MY D%MN MOON BASE?



Cortland
KA5S

 

If you own a dual band handheld / mobile rig or even separates for that matter you can easily build an antenna for about $20 that will easily hit the satellites. It does not have to exclude anyone, it's open to anyone who wants to take the initiative to get there.

I'll definitely be listening on those dates to try to work K5E on the 'birds'.

 

Please also look at the AMSAT News Service item I posted here last night, which is now active. The second item in that post reports that AMSAT also will be transmitting a special commemorative message on AO-51 the evening of July 20-21 (UTC) on the satellite's 435.300 mHz downlink. A special SWL/QSL will be available for stations who copy that message.

As you can imagine, I will NOT be working those passes to give everyone an opportunity to copy that special relay from AMSAT. Thanks to Drew, KO4MA, and the entire AO-51 control team for setting this up.

73,

Tim - N3TL
K5E - The 40th Anniversary Apollo 11 Satellite Special Event

 

Well said............

 

Apollo 11 40th Aniversary Special Event Stations

Grumman built 15 Lunar Modules here in Bethpage, Long Island and now the Grumman Amateur Radio Club (GARC) has been authorized to act in a special event capacity. Seven club stations will use call signs of WA2LQO/their own call. The stations will be operating using CW or SSB on HF and also using the club's 2 Meter repeaters. Those who contact any one of these stations during the period of July 17 through July 21, 2009 will be eligible to receive a special commemorative certificate.

See also post in the special event forum and also the GARC web site:-
http://www.qsl.net/wa2lqo/

73,
Bob w2ilp

 

Thanks for the notice of this! It's nice to see so many folks getting involved to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.

73,

Tim - N3TL
K5E - The 40th Anniversary Appolo 11 Satellite Special Event

 

It would be nice to know the frequencies since I have never worked that mode before.

Kj6CM -Tom

 

Well, I don't happen to own a "Dual band".

 

I'm not whining / I'm thrilled

The 40th anniversary is a great opportunity! Don't have a radio for space mode? Then, work VE3MOON OR the Grummann station(s!) on HF, also referenced in this thread. I couldn't be more thrilled!

Let's face it: if you don't have space eqpt, you can't work K5E. But I saw two guys in their 20s using an HT and a handheld antenna working birds during field day, so I know it's affordable and possible. (their age isn't a factor, except for their youthful enthusiasm.)

I don't have VHF/UHF equipment either. But I'm thinking of buying a HT and antenna, just to try space mode for the commemmorative space event. What a great time to do it! Used eqpt appeals to me when retail prices are unappealing.

If I can't find the eqpt to buy, I'm going to get in touch with some of my fellow club members and see if we can do combine our strengths (and equipment) make it to space.

If you really want to do it, you'll get it done. I know I will.

Best luck to all!