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Solar activity surged this week, with average daily sunspot numbers
increasing nearly 55 points from 101.4 to 156.3. Average daily solar
flux rose nearly 38 points from 142.9 to 180.4. These increases
compare the recent period, January 30 through February 5, with the
previous seven days.  Geomagnetic numbers will increase this
weekend, with planetary A index predicted to be 5, 15, 10 and 8 on
February 7 to 10, followed by 5 on February 11 to 16, 8 on February
17 and 18, 5 on February 19 to 24, then 8 on February 25, then 5
February 26 through March 1, and 12 on March 2.  Solar flux should
be strong, with values of 190, 185, 180, 170 and 160 on February 7
to 11, 155 on February 12 and 13, followed by 135, 130 and 140 on
February 14 to 16, and 145 on February 17 to 22.  Solar flux is
expected to gradually climb to 200 on March 1, drop slightly, then
peak at 210 on March 5, followed by a low of 130 on March 14 and
then another rise.  OK1HH supplies us with his geomagnetic outlook,
and he predicts the geomagnetic field will be quite to active
February 7 and 8, mostly quiet February 9 and 10, quiet of February
11, mostly quite February 12, quiet on February 13 to 15, quiet to
unsettled February 16, quiet to active February 17, quiet to
unsettled February 18, quiet on February 19 and 20, quiet to
unsettled February 21, quiet on February 22, quiet to unsettled
February 23, and quiet to active February 24 and 25.  Sunspot
numbers were 112, 87, 147, 163, 168, 183, and 234, with a mean of
156.3. 10.7 cm flux was 160.5, 165.7, 176.7, 189.8, 188.3, 188.1,
and 193.5, with a mean of 180.4. Estimated planetary A indices were
5, 3, 5, 4, 6, 5, and 4, with a mean of 4.6. Estimated mid latitude
A indices were 4, 2, 2, 4, 5, 4, and 5, with a mean of 3.7.  Two
Amateur Radio related activities aboard the International Space
Station have been postponed. The deployment of Amateur Radio
CubeSats planned for February 6 has been put off, and a new date has
not yet been announced. NASA reported that astronaut Koichi Wakata,
KC5ZTA, this week installed a deployer mechanism that will be used
in concert with the Kibo robotic arm to release the first set of
CubeSats. He ran into difficulty last week installing some related
electronics, delaying the CubeSat deployments. NASA now wants to
make sure the CubeSats do not fall into the intended orbit of the
Global Precipitation Measurement satellite, which goes into space
later this month.  The CubeSats were aboard the Cygnus freighter
that launched from Virginias Eastern Shore January 9. Since
arriving, the CubeSats have been awaiting deployment by the Kibo
robotic arm. The satellites include Lithuanias first two satellites,
LituanicaSat 1 and LitSat 1 as well as ArduSat 2, UAPSat 1, and the
915 MHz SkyCube. LituanicaSat 1 carries a 145/435 MHz FM
transponder, while LitSat 1 will have a 435/145 MHz linear SSB/CW
transponder. The Kaunas University of Technology developed
LituanicaSAT 1, while the Lithuanian Space Federation developed
LitSat 1. Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL, has posted details of these and
other Amateur Radio satellites due for deployment this month.

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