Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Sidewalk Astronomy (18 Nov 2023)

On the 18th of November 2024, the Grassroots organisations of Clementi and the Science Centre Singapore, came forward to organise the Sidewalk Astronomy at Casa Clementi for its residents.

  

SST Astronomy Club was invited to contribute to the event by setting up a games booth to engage the young residents of Casa Clementi.

 





FCC Radio License Programme

 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the US government, formed by the Communications Act of 1934. They basically decide who is able to use which frequencies for which purposes, and issue licenses to stations for specific frequencies. Their mission, amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, is to ensure fast and reliable wire and radio communication services across the nation and the world.

That includes broadband, wireless internet, and fixed wireless services. Why? The airwaves are considered to be a limited resource that is shared by everyone. Because of this, the FCC assigns specific frequencies to licensed operators to prevent too many services from using the same channels at the same time.

What is the FCC License?

An FCC license grants an organization legal permission to operate on a specific frequency, within a particular radio band, using a specific type of radio signal emission. Individuals, businesses, or organizations that want to operate on Industrial/Business Pool frequencies must have a license.

This includes using a network design and equipment that meets FCC guidelines for quality and clarity. In the case of fixed wireless, the FCC requires most wireless telecommunications service licensees to construct their system or meet coverage requirements within a specified time period and then notify the Commission when everything is completed.


On the days 30/11, 1/12, and 3/12, SST Astronomy Club students spent about 20 hours to learn from Mr. Hugh Mason on the FCC Radio License (Technician Class). For at least 5 hours a day, Mr. Mason patiently conducted the 9 lessons that are covered by the FCC (T class). 

The topics covered include:
1. Introduction
         What is Amateur Radio
         The FCC and Licensing    
         Amateur Radio Activities
         Getting Your Ham Radio License
2. Radio and Signals Fundamentals
         Radio Signals and Waves
         Radio Equipment Basics
3. Electricity, Components, and Circuits
         Electricity
         Components and Units
         Radio Circuits
4. Propagation, Antennas, and Feed Lines
         Propagation
         Antenna and Radio Wave Basics
         Feed Lines and SWR
         Practical Antenna Systems
5. Amateur Radio Equipment
         Modulation
         Transmitters and Receivers
         Digital Communications
         Power Supplies and Batteries
6. Communicating With Other Hams
         Band Plans
         Making Contacts
         Using Repeaters
         Nets
         Communications for Public Service
         Satellite Operating
7. Licensing Regulations
         Licensing Terms
         Bands and Privileges International Rules
         Call Signs
8. Operating Regulations
         Control Operators
         Identification
         Interference
         Third-party Communications
         Remote and Automatic Operation
         Prohibited Transmissions
9. Safety
         Electrical Safety
         Managing RF in Your Station
         RF Interference (RFI)
         RF Exposure
         Mechanical Safety

On the 17 November 2023, the class of students took the FCC Radio License (Technician Class) and achieved their radio license. They are: 












Monday, December 4, 2023

Chiangmai Overseas Learning Experience Programme (7-12 Nov 2023)

During the 7 Nov (Tues) to 12 Nov (Sun) 2023, 14 SST students and 3 teachers embarked on a Learning Journey to Chiangmai, Thailand.

The objectives of the trip are for students to:

1. Develop skills, knowledge, and attitudes relevant to Astronomy through a visit to the National Astronomy Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) facilities in Thailand, including the Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark (AstroPark), the Thai National Observatory (TNO), and the Thai National Radio Observatory (TNRO).

2. Develop effective personal and interpersonal skills through the field trip.

3. Provide a valuable differentiated learning experience in participating in a field trip where students learn about Astronomy Education and Research in a new learning environment.

4. Develop awareness about Sustainable Development in Northern Thailand through the The King’s Royal Projects.

The programme for the trip is as follows: 

Day 1: Arrive at Chiang Mai

Day 2: Head to AstroPark, Exhibition @ Astro Park, Visit Engineering Facility, Tour around Old Town

Day 3: Travel to Doi Inthanon National Park, Doi Inthanon National Park, Thai National Observatory (TNO), Stargazing @ Doi Inthanon National Park

 

Day 4: Travel to Astro Park, Planetarium show at 11 am local time, Thai National Radio Observatory (TNRO)

 

Day 5: Mae Taeng Elephant Camp, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Astro Park @ 6 pm for Stargazing

Day 6:  Return to Singapore


 











Sunday, October 29, 2023

Partial Lunar Eclipse Camp (28-29 Oct 2023)

On 28 Oct 2023, 54 SST Astroclub members gathered for a Moon-gazing event that would happen on the 29 Oct 2023 at about 4 am. 

In conjunction of the partial lunar eclipse, we have also invited members of the Singapore Amatuer Radio Transmission Society (SARTS) to give us an orientation of the radio waves that are found in our atmosphere that is instrumental to radio communications. 

Mr. Hugh Mason fro SARTS shared with our students on the following:

(a)   Solar System Model and the role of Radio (for Voyager I and II) 

(b)   How Antennas Work? 

(c)   Space weather phenomenon - ionosphere, northern lights, radio propagation and solar storms 

(d)   High Frequency radio transmissions and receptions 

Fu Hang (9V1FH) from SARTS giving the students a briefing on monopole antenna systems 

SST and Team SARTS with their dipole antenna and ICOM-70 radios 

 Mr Hugh Mason (9V1SA) from SARTS giving a lesson on Solar Flares and its effects on radio transmissions  

At 4 a.m. on the 29th Oct 2023, we witness the moon being “cropped off” by the earth’s shadow during the partial eclipse.

A comparison between an eclipsed moon and a Full moon. Notice that the eclipsed moon appear slightly reddish.

Harish zooming in on the craters of the moon. 

 The moon gazing session ended off in the morning with breakfast, reflection, and a short presentation of their learning experiences. 

Kayla, Pavithraa, Chloe, and Eva presenting their learning about the eclipse. 

We also appeared in the news as well: 

Saturday, October 21, 2023

4th Kibo Robot Programming Challenge (Kibo-RPC), Final Round 軌道上決勝大会

The Kibo Robot Programming Challenge is an educational program in which students solve various problems by programming free-flying robots (Astrobee and Int-Ball) in the International Space Station (ISS). The Kibo-RPC will inspire students to develop their educational and professional goals to a higher level. Participants will have the opportunity to learn cutting-edge methodologies and hone their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through this program.

 

In this competition, 1685 students from 13 countries and regions participated. Singapore is represented by SST 1, in a 10-nation grand finals, comprising of teams from Australia, US, UAE, Malaysia, and Thailand. 

 

NAGARAJAN VIMAL BALAJI, SHAUN CHUA ENQI, and TEH TIAN CHENG from S2-08 represented Team Singapore. 


The game play was to hit as many targets in the International Space Station in the shortest time available, before returning into the hands of the astronaut. 


The process in which our robots (Astrobee) performed can be found in the Youtube recording on the International Space Station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBKVAojl0GQ

 

 

The leaderboard is as follows:  

 

Team SST 1 came in second overall to secure the award. 

For more information about the competition, you may refer to the website. 

https://jaxa.krpc.jp/

 

Ad Astra.


Thursday, August 10, 2023

Space Science School Talks (1 to 3 Aug 2023)

Scientists travel to Singapore for various conferences and meetings. It is through these meetings that we had the opportunity to invite them for talks. The following are the 3 talks organised during the Space Week. 

On the 1st of August 2023, SST students from Astronomy Club and Science Talent Development Programme were given a talk by Professor Loren Chang from the National Central University. 

His talk was "How to survive space flight?" 

 


Professor Chang's Biography:  
Dr. Loren Chang is a Professor at the Department of Space Science andEngineering at National Central University (NCU) in Taiwan. Dr. Chang conducts research on the Earth’s upper atmosphere and its role in spaceweather, analysis of satellite data from the COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 andTIMED missions, and serves as the Taiwan lead for the International SatelliteProgram in Research and Education (INSPIRE) consortium. Dr. Chang hasserved as the Principal Investigator of the IDEASSat (Ionosphere DynamicsExplorer and Attitude Subsystem Satellite)/INSPIRESat-2 spacecraft and iscurrently leading the development of SCION-X (SCintillation and IONosphereNetwork eXtended) and ILITE missions, as well as the Deep Space RadiationProbe (DSRP) payload, which is Taiwan’s first lunar science payload. Dr.Chang is working to further enhance spacecraft design and operationscapacity, as well as an academic program focused on astronautics at NCU,while also serving as a consultant for space technology developments byTaiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and private industry.

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On the 2nd of August 2023, SST students from Astronomy Club and Singapore Youth Flying Club were given a talk by Dr Rosaly Lopes from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA.

 


Her talk was on: "Exploring Volcanoes on Earth and beyond" 

ABSTRACT

The planets and moons of the Solar System are incredibly diverse worlds with histories both ancient and dramatic.  Etched into their surfaces is a fascinating story – of fire and ice, of order and upheaval, of great cataclysms and slow change.   Volcanoes are common throughout the Solar System and volcanic eruptions are among nature's most awesome spectacles.  As we explore volcanoes on Earth and other worlds, we find a wide variety of landscapes—even ice volcanoes.  Dr. Rosaly Lopes will discuss what space missions such as Galileo and Cassini have revealed about the wide variety of volcanoes in the solar system. 

BIOGRAPHY 

Dr. Rosaly M. C. Lopes is Deputy Director for Planetary Science at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, and former Editor-in-Chief of the planetary journal Icarus. She obtained a B.Sc. in astronomy and Ph.D. in planetary science from University College London, UK. Her research expertise is on planetary geology and volcanology and she has studied Mars, Io, and Titan. She was a member of Galileo’s Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer team from 1991-2003 and of the Cassini Titan Radar Mapper (2003-2019). She is the PI of the NASA Astrobiology Institute project “Habitability of Hydrocarbon Worlds: Titan and Beyond”. She is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Geological Society of America, and the American Geophysical Union. She has received several awards including the Carl Sagan Medal from the American Astronomical Society, the Ambassador Award from the American Geophysical Union, and two NASA Exceptional Public Service Medals.


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On the 3rd of August 2023, SST students from Astronomy Club and Science Talent Development Programme were given a talk by Professor Kohichiro Oyama from the Kyushu University. 

Professor Oyama will be giving 2 talks: 

1.Structure of Earth atmosphere and ionosphere
(Important things to know when you plan a Cube Sat) 

2.Venus orbitor mission - from dream to reality 
How I could walk long way to make my dream come true. 
(Why I wanted to explore Venus, what the atmosphere pressure , temperature of Venus, Do Lightning and active volcanoes exist on Venus?)




Biography of Professor Oyama:

Current position 
Senior fellow International Center forPlanetary Environment Research, Kyushu Univeristy
CEO, Ltd Asia Space Environment ResearchConsortium  

Professor Koichiro Oyama has held various appointments in Universities in Japan, visiting professorships in Taiwan, and held various international appointments related to Space Exploration.