Announcement

This is to inform all visitors that the head of the Wireless and Radio Science Centre has left the centre and the university since 1 November, 2010. He is not responsible for any action or inaction by the centre beyond that date.

He is now at University Malaysia Pahang and can be reached at afaizal at ump.edu.my.

Those interested to work on space science and the ionopshere, antenna and propagation, and communications in general can contact him through the email above.

Please note that this blog is an unofficial site and does not belong to nor reflect the views of University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia.

Angkasawan Negara visits WARAS' Hari Raya Gathering

Major Dr. Faiz Bin Khaleed gave a surprise visit to WARAS on 24 September, 2010. Researchers, student, and staff was present to welcome his entourage. He was briefed on the research activities at WARAS. The mainstay of WARAS, the digital ionosonde, caught his attention as it relates directly to his profession and passion, near space.




The ionosonde is able to provide observations of the ionosphere from 90 to 1020 km above sea level. The International Space Station, ISS, orbits the earth at around 350 to 400 km, right in the F-region of the ionosphere. The concentration of electrons would maximise around that height.




After the briefing, Major Dr. Faiz was treated to a simple Hari Raya treat! Surprisingly, Dr. Faiz shares the same birthplace as the Head of WARAS, right smack in the heart of Kuala
Lumpur!




Angkasawan with future angkasawatis?


WARAS extends her sincere thanks to Angkasawan Negara for making the visit an auspicious moment. WARAS also acknowledges Agensi Angkasa Negara for making the visit possible.



One happy family. Notice the space wheel on the right.

Presentation given at the Ionospheric Modeling for Malaysian SBAS, 15 December, 2008 - updated

The presentation given by Prof. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Faizal Mohd. Zain can be downloaded here.

Technical Talk at the Amateur Radio Reunion Day '08

The technical talk given by Prof. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Faizal Mohd. Zain, 9M2DX/WT3E can be downloaded here.

Head of WARAS gives public lecture at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

The head of WARAS gave a public lecture on June 25, 2008, at the Senate Meeting Room, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. He spoke on "The Ionosphere: A Space Science Laboratory". The theoretical background of the solar-terrestrial coupling and its impact on the earth's atmosphere and the history of ionospheric research was presented in general.

He also touched on the history of ionospheric research in Malaysia and the work that is carried out at WARAS. The effect of the equatorial anomaly was demonstrated using simultaneous ionogram observations made at Parit Raja (home station) and Frasers Hill (campaign station). The F-layer critical frequency and virtual height is shown to be lower at higher equatorial latitude.


The ionospheric changes due to seismo-ionospheric coupling observed prior and during the 2004 Northern Sumatra tsunami was also presented. Another interesting observation presented was the occurrences of the F3-layer, a much higher ionised layer at about 700 km.


Earlier, WARAS signed an MoU with Institut Sains Angkasa, UKM.

Epic landmark in WARAS' activity

June 25, 2008, four days after the summer solstice (occurred at 23:59, June 20, 2008), marked a milestone in the history of WARAS. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Wireless and Radio Science Centre of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), and the Space Science Institute of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia(UKM).

Prof. Ir. Dr. Amir Hashim Mohd. Kassim, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) signed the MoU on behalf of UTHM. He was witnessed by the Head of WARAS, Prof. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Faizal Mohd. Zain. The Vice-Chancellor UKM, Prof. Dato' Dr. Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin signed for UKM and witnessed by the Director of Institut Sains Angkasa, Prof. Dato' Dr. Baharuddin Yatim.

The MoU marked an epic event for WARAS' short lifespan, as a well-established research university in the likes of UKM would have confidence in a small and young centre. The fact that WARAS has established a world-class digital interferometric ionosonde, ionospheric total electron content (TEC) and scintillation monitoring, and geomagnetic field measurements, must have impressed UKM.

It is with this conviction that WARAS must strive hard to further the research in space and ionospheric science in the equatorial region. The MoU is one giant step toward that direction.