Erosion of the surface reveals several shades of light toned layers, likely sedimentary deposits, as shown in this image taken by the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
NASA Image of the Day
OSCAR-100 is hosted on Es’hail-2, a Broadcast Transponder Satellite owned by the Es’hailSat Qatar Satellite Company, the satellite is now in geostationary orbit at 25.9° E.
More information on the OSCAR-100 project can be found at AMSAT-DL Phase 4-A
In co-operation with AMSAT-UK, the British Amateur Television Club will be operating a WebSDR for the narrowband segment, and a Spectrum Viewer for the wideband (DATV) segment.
Goonhilly Earth Station is supporting the project, providing hosting for the Ground Station facility at their world-famous site in Cornwall, UK.
Es’hail-2 WebSDR https://eshail.batc.org.uk/
Es’hail-2 Narrowband amateur radio transponder operating guidelines
https://amsat-dl.org/en/p4-a-nb-transponder-bandplan-and-operating-guidelines
Es’hail-2 Wideband amateur radio transponder operating guidelines
https://amsat-dl.org/en/p4-a-wb-transponder-bandplan-and-operating-guidelines
Es’hail-2 amateur radio information
https://amsat-dl.org/en/eshail-2-amsat-phase-4-a
m5aka
AMSAT-UK
AMSAT-DL report:
This will also be the occasion to officially put the two amateur radio transponders of Qatar OSCAR-100, the first geostationary P4-A satellite from Qatar, into operation. The opening ceremony will be held by His Excellency Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, former Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar. A71AU is also the chairman of the Qatar Amateur Radio Society (QARS) and initiator of the first Qatari amateur radio satellite.
Es’hail-2 Geostationary Satellite – credit Es’hailSat
A team of the P4-A team of AMSAT-DL, consisting of the chairman Peter Gülzow DB2OS, Achim Vollhardt DH2VA and Thomas Kleffel DG5NGI, is on its way to Qatar to set up and commission the P4-A ground segment at the ground station of Es’hailSat. In addition to LEILA and the DVB-S2 DATV system, this also includes a club station for SSB radio operation under the callsign A71A. A backup station is installed at QARS in Doha. The ground station of the AMSAT-DL at the observatory Bochum is also ready for reception and transmission. Later, radio operation via Qatar-OSCAR 100 will also be carried out here under the callsign DL50AMSAT.
Only after the official release ceremony on February 14 will the transponders be released for general radio operation by radio amateurs worldwide.
During commissioning, we expressly request that you refrain from any transmission attempts!
The SCC in Qatar, as well as Bochum in Germany, are carrying out some tests to measure both transponders and to calibrate the ground systems.
Please also note the beacons sent in the NB transponder. On the DATV beacon of the WB Transponder a video of Es’hail-2 will be broadcast in an endless loop in DVB-S2 format on the opening day.
Es’hail-2 coverage area
Furthermore, the rules of the game, as defined in the Operating Guidelines for the Narrowband transponder and Wideband transponder are formulated. Please observe the band boundaries of the NB transponder as defined by the upper and lower beacon! A later adaptation and possible extension upwards may be considered after first experiments.
Again: Please no uplink attempts until the official release of the transponders by QARS!
We appeal to patience and to the Ham Spirit: any disruptions during commissioning and on the opening day could result in further postponements of the official release.
Source AMSAT-DL https://amsat-dl.org/en/eshail-2-qo-100-teleport-inauguration
Es’hail-2 Narrowband amateur radio transponder operating guidelines
https://amsat-dl.org/en/p4-a-nb-transponder-bandplan-and-operating-guidelines
Es’hail-2 Wideband amateur radio transponder operating guidelines
https://amsat-dl.org/en/p4-a-wb-transponder-bandplan-and-operating-guidelines
Es’hail-2 WebSDR enables you to receive both the Narrowband and Wideband transponders online
https://eshail.batc.org.uk/
Es’hail-2 amateur radio information
https://amsat-dl.org/en/eshail-2-amsat-phase-4-a
https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/eshail-2/
m5aka
AMSAT-UK
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will speak to, and take questions from, media about how technologies originally developed for space exploration now are used to cultivate farms, predict crop yields, manage water resources, and more, during his Tuesday, Feb. 12, visit to World Ag Expo in Tulare, California.
NASA Breaking News
The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), an advisory committee that reports to NASA and Congress, issued its 2018 annual report Friday examining the agency’s safety performance over the past year and highlighting accomplishments, issues and concerns.
NASA Breaking News
Following the successful launch of Es’hail-2, the new Es’hailSat teleport will be inaugurated on February 14, 2019.