[jamsat-news:681] * SpaceNews 10-Nov-97 *

["John A. Magliacane" <kd2bd@modem10.brookdale.cc.nj.us>]

SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC1110
* SpaceNews 10-Nov-97 *


BID: $SPC1110


			       =========
			       SpaceNews
			       =========


			MONDAY NOVEMBER 10, 1997


SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.  It
is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use.


* RS-17 / SPUTNIK-40 LAUNCHED *
===============================
The Sputnik-40 satellite was hand deployed by Anatoly from the
Mir space station during a space walk that took place last Monday.
The small satellite is battery powered, and is currently transmitting
audio "beeps" on 145.820 MHz FM using 250 milliwatts of power.
Reception reports have been received from around the world by people
using even modest receiving equipment such as a handheld receiver in
a car with a "rubber duck" antenna.  The frequency of the audio tone
transmitted by the satellite is related to the internal temperature
in the spacecraft.  Sputnik-40 also goes by the name of "RS-17".
The batteries on the satellite are expected to allow operation for
about one month.

The following Keplerian elements can be used to track this latest
Amateur Radio satellite:

Sputnik 40
1 24958U 97058C   97308.73090523  .00032204  00000-0  39449-3 0    76
2 24958  51.6583  99.3826 0006309 271.4809  88.5478 15.60040373   160


* MIR ALTITUDE REPORT *
=======================
Jean-Claude, FB1RCI, has provided the following graphic showing the altitude
of Mir as a function of time based on Mean Motion of the spacecraft.

          TIME ORBIT REVOLUTION (Summary)   MIR Complex 16609
                 (Period day = 280 to day = 306 1997)

    Revolution/Day
          I              
 15.5500  I                         
          I                                    
 15.5600  I                               
          I                       
 15.5700  I                                     
          I         
 15.5800  I      
          I              
          I
 15.6000  I-------------------_____________________
          I                               
          I                                         
 15.6500  I                                                       Epoch time
          I____x__________x__________x__________x__________x__________x___
              Aug        Sep       Oct         Nov        Dec        Jan


Soyuz TM26 docking   : 07-Aug-97
STS-86 docking       : 28-Sep-97
Progress M36 docking : 07-Oct-97


* MIR NEWS *
============
Miles Mann, WF1F, reports that the crew on Mir is preparing for their
next space walk in which they will install a new solar panel in place
of an old one removed last Monday.  Solar panel replacement is a routine
operation as the solar cells used in the panels lose efficiency over time.

Not much Amateur Radio activity is expected because of the heavy crew work
load.


* FO-29 OPERATING SCHEDULE *
============================

Date		Mode
----------+-------------
10-Nov-97 : JD 1200 bps
14-Nov-97 : JA
21-Nov-97 : Digitalker
25-Nov-97 : JD 1200 bps
28-Nov-97 : JD 9600 bps
05-Dec-97 : JA
12-Dec-97 : JD 9600 bps
19-Dec-97 : Digitalker
26-Dec-97 : JA
09-Jan-98 : JD 1200 bps
16-Jan-98 : JD 9600 bps
23-Jan-98 : JA
30-Jan-98 : JD 1200 bps

FO-20 continues in Mode JA.

[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]


* FALCON GOLD CORRECTION *
==========================
Last week it was reported that the US Air Force Academy was the first
undergraduate institution to get a live satellite in orbit after the
successful launch of the Falcon Gold satellite.  In reality, there
have been previous satellite projects undertaken by other educational
institutions.  For example, Weber State University in Ogden, Utah had
a satellite called NUSAT deployed from the Space Shuttle in the early
1980s.  This was followed by the successful launch of WEBERSAT-OSCAR-18
in January 1990.  Both spacecraft were constructed at Weber State
University by undergraduate personnel.

So, while the Falcon Gold satellite was certainly constructed by
undergraduate personnel at the US Air Force Academy, it was not the
first undergraduate institution to get a live satellite into orbit.

Sorry for the confusion last week's report may have caused.

 
* FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED *
===========================
Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John,
KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below:
 
WWW       : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
PACKET    : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET  : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net
SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, LUSAT-OSCAR-19, KITSAT-OSCAR-25


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/EX

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