[continued from previous message]   
      
   (qrz.com / 425 dx news / rsgb)   
      
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   Thierry, TK1CX is active from Cameroon until the end of February.   
      
   He is QRV as TJ/TK1CX on the 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m bands.   
      
   He operates mainly using FT8.   
      
   QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, or via EA 5 ZD.   
      
   (rsgb)   
   --------------   
      
   PC 80 TT is the special callsign for members of VERON Leiden to celebrate   
   the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands during   
   World War II (5 May 1945).   
      
   Look for activity now until June One   
      
   QSL PC80TT via the bureau to PI4LDN.   
      
   The special call sign honours the memory of Rudolf Tappenbeck (PCTT),   
   a pioneer of Dutch amateur radio who died in Neuengamme concentration   
   camp 1944.   
      
   (425dxn)   
      
   ----------   
      
   This year the SARL is on the air with special event callsign   
   ZS 100 SARL as the society celebrates their centenary of organised   
   amateur radio activity in South Africa.   
      
   (sarl)   
      
   ----------   
      
   Don, KW7R is active as V73KW from the Marshall Islands in the north   
   western Pacific Ocean. He is there on a work assignment until   
   September and in his spare time, he operates CW and FT8 on various bands.   
      
   QSL V73KW via Logbook of the World.   
      
   (RSGB)   
      
   ---------   
      
   British Railways Amateur Radio Society is running special event stations   
   GB0LMR and GB2SDR during 2025 to celebrate 200 years of train travel.   
      
      
   Operation will be mainly focused on 40m but there may be additional activity   
   on other bands.   
      
      
   QSL via the Bureau.   
   (RSGB)   
      
   -----------   
      
   Over in "the Motherland", the RSGBs weekly news broadcast GB2RS is   
   celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. As part of the celebrations,   
   special callsign GB70RS is active throughout the year. The callsign is   
   being operated by radio amateurs who help to deliver GB2RS each week and   
   could include Newsreaders and RSGB Headquarters staff.   
      
   Unlike here in VK , in the UK RSGB have to have separate news readers for   
   each frequency.   
      
   You can listen out for RSGB operators on all modes and all bands, with   
   activity taking place at any time, although you are particularly likely to   
   hear them before and after the GB2RS broadcasts.   
      
   Find out more via the GB70RS page at QRZ.com   
      
   (rsgb)   
      
   --------------------   
      
   Lonar Meteor Lake Special Event AU 6 LON.   
      
   Lonar Meteor Lake is a creator lake formed by the impact of a meteor   
   5 MILLION years ago. It is an astronomical wonder in itself. VU2DSI,   
   Datta from India will be operating/activating from this unique place in   
   the world of astronomy from 20 th to 24 February. Lonar Meteor Lake is  in   
   the Buldhana district of the state of Maharashtra in India.   
      
   (ard)   
      
   ________________________________________________   
   WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS   
   SUMMITS ON THE AIR, WORLD WIDE FLORA, FAUNA PROGRAM,   
   PARKS ON THE AIR and other ADVENTURE GROUPS.   
      
   hema.org.uk/index.jsp   
   minesontheair.com/about-mota   
   parksontheair.com/   
   sota.org.uk   
   sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/   
   facebook.com/SotaAustralia/   
   wwffaustralia.com/   
   SQUIRRELING AWAY A PERSONAL TREASURE   
      
   For this week's starting story, we tell you about one SOTA activator's   
   highest summit of achievement. It's actually no bigger than a card that   
   could fit in his wallet. We hear about him from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.   
   Ray, KD8EQA, is still a few weeks away from achieving Mountain Goat status as   
   a SOTA activator -- but even in the three-plus years he's been involved in   
   Summits On The Air, the Colorado ham has found many kinds of meaningful   
   recognition, most of them with a connection to animals. As a SOTA chaser, he   
   received a Rooster Award from his friend Steve, WGAT, after 50 successful   
   contacts with activators on Mt. Herman. This unofficial honour was granted in   
   memory of Steve's two beloved goats, Peanut and Rooster. Ray later became an   
   official Shack Sloth, achieving 1,000 points chasing summits throughout   
   Colorado.   
      
      
   As both the elevations and Ray's point score began to soar, so did his   
   enchantment with the natural beauty around him. Becoming a ham in 2021, it   
   didn't take long for the avid hiker to step out with his portable gear: His   
   first SOTA activation was on Mt. Antero [ANN TERRO], a so-called "fourteener"   
   for its 14 thousand plus feet above sea level. Enchanted by nature's vistas   
   and animals - from moose to hummingbird - Ray has had his share of what he   
   considers "wow moments."   
      
      
   What he received in June of 2023 has no equal in his eyes. It was not the 4   
   points he got that day for his activation on Devil's Head summit. No, Ray was   
   in the national forest specifically to visit the active fire tower, where   
   Ashley, the tower's lookout officer, had promised to present him with a card   
   bestowing membership in something the Forest Service called the Ancient and   
   Honourable Order of Squirrels. An internet search shows that, at least since   
   the 1940s, the forest lookouts have presented these cards at active fire   
   towers around the US to raise public awareness of the perils of forest fires.   
      
      
   This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.   
      
   To Ray, there is no greater honour than being a card-carrying Forest Service   
   squirrel. The card is a tangible reminder of all that was once good in our   
   world so long ago and still surrounds us now. "I cherish this," he said:   
   [quote] "It is one of the most valuable things I own." [endquote]   
      
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER   
   AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org   
      
   Blue Origin Simulates Lunar Gravity on Landmark New Shepard Flight   
   Blue Origin successfully launched its NS-29 mission on February 4th, marking   
   a significant milestone in suborbital research. The mission, which lifted off   
   from the companys West Texas launch site at 1600 UTC), was originally   
   scheduled for January 28th but was delayed due to weather and technical   
   issues. This flight was the 29th for the reusable New Shepard vehicle and   
   featured a unique capability: the simulation of lunar gravity in suborbital   
   space.   
      
      
   The NS-29 mission proceeded as planned, with both the booster and the crew   
   capsule executing safe returns to Earth. The booster performed a controlled   
   vertical landing on the designated pad, while the capsule descended under   
   parachutes, touching down in the West Texas desert approximately 10 minutes   
   after launch. However, one of the capsules three parachutes did not fully   
   open. Blue Origin officials assured viewers during the live broadcast that   
   the spacecraft is designed to land safely even if not all parachutes fully   
   deploy.   
      
      
   A key feature of this mission was its ability to generate lunar gravity   
   forcesa first for New Shepard. The capsule achieved this by rotating about 11   
   times per minute for two minutes using its reaction-control thrusters. This   
   capability was developed to support research on lunar-related technologies,   
   benefiting the 30 payloads aboard the spacecraft. Among these, 29 experiments   
   were specifically designed to test innovations applicable to the Moons   
   environment.   
      
   (twiar)   
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - INTERNET, THE HAMS DOMAIN   
      
   Over the past months we have heard how our WIA is revamping the wia.org.au   
   website.   
      
   Now comes word how the RSGB has ADDED new material to theirs .. well worth   
   the visit particularly those listeners, viewers and readers who hold RSGB   
   membership   
      
   The RSGB has launched a new web page on how emerging technology can be   
   used in amateur radio. Technologies such as artificial intelligence and   
   3D printing offer the opportunity to broaden the definition of amateur   
   radio. They can also increase appeal and attract a more diverse audience.   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)