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[jamsat-news:775] ANS 060
Daniel (Dan) James NN0DJ
AMSAT News Service Editor
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-060.01
MIR SCHOOL CONTACTS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 060.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 1, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-060.01
It has been nearly a year since the last SAREX school group talked to an
astronaut on the MIR Space Station. Since that time, the amateur radio
community has witnessed first hand (through the MIR 2-way amateur radio
link) several critical MIR events, including the collision between the 12 year
old space station and the Progress resupply ship, and recovery operations
by the various MIR crew members. Until recently, the crew aboard MIR had
their full attention focused on recovery from the collision and restarting the
scientific investigations that were abruptly stopped because of the accident.
Monday, February 23rd was a very special day as it marked a new era for MIR;
the return of SAREX school group contacts. This past week, three schools
across the United States, in California, Colorado and South Carolina, enjoyed
successful two way amateur radio contacts with US Astronaut Andy Thomas,
KD5CHF/VK5MIR, aboard the MIR space station.
On Monday, February 23, 1998 six youngsters from the Shell Beach
Elementary School in Pismo Beach, California, made contact with Thomas
aboard MIR. The students, in grades 1 through 6, were able to ask the
astronaut a total of 10 questions during the approximately ten minute contact.
Over 150 people attended the event including 75 students. When the radio
contact was over, one of the students commented, "this was really cool...
a once in a lifetime experience."
The contact was made using the Houston, Texas, Telebridge station, W5RRR,
with Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL, at the controls.
On Tuesday February 25th the Prairie Hills Elementary school located in
Colorado Springs, Colorado, talked with Thomas as some 400 youngsters seated
in the gym listened intently. According to Rob Roller, N7LV, who helped arrange
the contact, the long wait to hear the space station was "definitely worth it,"
describing the contact as "quite a thrill! "
Roller said all the people in the gym were able to follow the track of the spacecraft
on an overhead display as Thomas talked, first describing what he's doing on MIR,
and then, several students were able to directly ask Thomas questions. His answers
were broadcast over the school's PA system so that everyone could hear.
Following the contact, two speakers, Major Mike Caylor from the United States
Air Force Academy and Eric Joern, an astronaut trainer, answered several more
questions from the excited kids. Press coverage of this contact was extensive,
with three major networks and several local newspapers in attendance.
The Space Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) program had its third school group
success on February 26th as the Buist Academy in Charleston, South Carolina
enjoyed a very successful contact as well. A total of 12 questions were radioed to
Thomas during the ten minute pass. This contact was made via the Adalaide,
Australia Ground Station courtesy of Graham Ratcliff, VK5AGR. The students at
Buist were very appreciative of Graham getting up in the middle of his night to
support their MIR contact.
In addition to students and teachers, several members of the Charleston Amateur
Radio Society followed the radio contact. The local Charleston media was
represented by two local television stations and the Post Courier newspaper. The
entire contact was also retransmitted live over the Charleston Amateur Radio Society
2 meter repeater.
The students at Buist were very excited about the contact and sent a huge
"thank you" to Thomas that he may well have heard despite MIR being past
Loss of Signal.
[ANS thanks the SAREX Working Group and Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT
VP for Manned Space Programs for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-060.02
SEVERAL AMATEURS WORK THOMAS ABOARD MIR
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 060.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 1, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-060.02
US Astronaut Andy Thomas, KD5CHF/VK5MIR, was not only busy talking with
several schools, he also had time to QSO several earth bound amateurs as well.
Mike Seguin, N1JEZ, reports he had the pleasure of briefly speaking with Thomas
on February 15, 1998. Mike says Andy was using the RR0DL 70 cm QSO
frequencies. Allen Emer, N2YAC, also reports a QSO with Andy on the 70cm
QSO channels. Both stations say that Andy seemed to be in very good spirits,
is looking forward to more 'air time' in the near future, and that he enjoys ragchewing
with earth bound hams. Tony Hutchison, VK5ZAI, tells ANS he had a six minute chat
with Andy on February 22nd at 14:25 UTC. Unlike the American stations,
Tony worked Thomas on the 2 meter MIR frequency of 145.985 MHz, also noting
that Thomas was using his VK5MIR callsign.
Tony reports Andy informed him that things have now settled down and the MIR
station is quite comfortable at the moment. Thomas also reports he has had some
great views of Earth! VK5ZAI enjoyed his contact with Andy, mentioning the QSO
was a bit special as Tony and Andy went to the same college.
Andy is settling in with his new Russian crewmates, Talgat Musabayev, RO3FT,
and Nikolai Budarin, RV3FB (ex-RV3DB/R4MIR). Cosmonauts Anatoly Solovyov
and Pavel Vinogradov along with French researcher Leopold Eyharts, have
safely returned to Earth.
For those unfamiliar with the MIR QSO mode, MIREX lists the initial uplink
frequency as 435.725 MHz, transmitted with a subaudio tone of 151.4 Hz,
and the initial downlink frequency as 437.925 MHz, followed by doppler correction.
Earth bound amateur radio stations must correct for doppler changes in order to
communicate with MIR. N2YAC reports he programmed his radio in 10 memory
channels with offsets for his QSO, N1JEZ concurs, reminding amateurs that
frequencies are adjusted for doppler exactly the same as when using the MIR
UHF repeater.
[ANS thanks Mike Seguin, N1JEZ, Allen Emer, N2YAC, Tony Hutchison,
VK5ZAI and MIREX for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-060.03
CREW ANNOUNCED FOR STS-95 FLIGHT
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 060.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 1, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-060.03
ANS was pleased to learn that a ham radio package will be aboard the STS-95
shuttle flight that will carry US Senator and astronaut John Glenn back into
space this fall. Information from Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL, confirmed the SAREX
payload would be aboard STS-95 as it flies in October carrying Glenn, the
77-year-old space pioneer who was the first US astronaut to orbit the Earth.
NASA also confirmed that two hams, astronaut Scott Parazynski, KC5RSY,
and European Space Agency astronaut Pedro Duque, KC5RGG, of Spain,
will be among the international crew aboard the STS-95 shuttle flight. Other
members of the STS-95 crew will include Japanese astronaut and cardiologist
Chiaki Mukai, and Americans Steve Lindsey and Steve Robinson. Commanding
STS-95 will be shuttle veteran Curt Brown.
Senator Glenn who will be 77 years old when he goes into space again, has begun
his astronaut training according to NASA. He has successfully completed
extensive medical tests and recently spent time in a centrifuge, for the first time
in decades.
[ANS thanks NASA , the ARRL and Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-060.04
G3AAJ RECEIVES RSGB HONOR
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 060.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 1, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-060.04
Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ, was recently honored by the Radio Society of Great
Britain (RSGB), when he was presented with the Louis Varney Cup. Varney's
callsign, G5RV, will be familiar to many. The cup is a gift of the RSGB's VHF
Committee and presented annually for "advances in space communication."
Broadbent received the award Sunday, February 22, 1998, presented to Ron
by RSGB President Ian Kyle, GI8AYZ.
According to Richard Limebear, G3RWL, AMSAT-UK Communications Officer,
"Broadbents twenty years of service as Secretary of AMSAT-UK made him a
fitting recipient of this honor, based on his tireless work for the good of amateur
satellites and the amateur radio fraternity worldwide." G3AAJ retired from his
AMSAT-UK position last December.
AMSAT France echoed the RSGB comments, adding a "most sincere
congratulations to G3AAJ for this well deserved award."
Complete details of this award will be featured in an upcoming issue of the
AMSAT Journal.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK Communications Officer Richard Limebear,
G3RWL, AMSAT France, the RSGB and Ray Soifer, W2RS for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-060.05
P3D 90% COMPLETE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 060.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 1, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-060.05
The Phase 3D Amateur Radio satellite is nearing completion at the Integration
Lab in Orlando, Florida. AMSAT officials remain optimistic that the Phase 3D
payload can hitch a ride into space soon.
AMSAT-NA Vice president Keith Pugh, W5IU, recently visited the Orlando lab,
and activated the 20 meter AMSAT net from his temporary location, giving many
amateurs an up-to-the-minute report on the progress being made on the spacecraft.
Also at the Lab was QST Managing Editor and satellite columnist Steve Ford,
WB8IMY. He reports being impressed by the way the AMSAT Phase 3D team has
managed to keep down costs by manufacturing many expensive-to-buy items
themselves. "In the best ham tradition," Ford says, "they also 'shopped smart,'
getting donated gear and components whenever possible or procuring components
at bargain prices."
WB8IMY, W5IU and other presenters attracted nearly three dozen satellite
enthusiasts to a workshop during the Orlando Hamcation the weekend of
February 13 and 14th. The workshop attempted to show that satellites are not hard
to work and that setting up a satellite station can be done inexpensively. Other
presenters in the five-hour session included Barry Baines, WD4ASW, Steve Bible,
N7HPR, and Dick Jansson, WD4FAB.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA and the ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-060.06
AMSAT NET INFORMATION NEEDED
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 060.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 1, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-060.06
Attention all AMSAT Net managers, Andrew Reynolds, WD9IYT and the AMSAT
Journal are looking for you! Actually, they're looking for information on your net.
The AMSAT Journal editorial staff is working with AMSAT-NA Vice President for
Electronic Publishing, Paul Williamson, KB5MU, to put together an up-to-date list
of all operational AMSAT Nets. The Journal is hoping to publish this list on a regular
basis, so that all satellite operators will be aware of net activity in their area, as well
as help keep the AMSAT Web page information current.
Please forward date, time and frequency information of your net operation to Andrew
Reynolds, WD9IYT, at his e-mail address:
wd9iyt@amsat.org
[ANS thanks AMSAT Journal editorial staff member Andrew Reynolds, WD9IYT
for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-060.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 060.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 1, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-060.07
MIR/SAFEX
SAFEX II 70 cm Repeater
(Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz
Downlink 437.950 MHz FM)
Operational. The SAFEX II installation has been utilized recently in QSO
Mode (Uplink 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz, Downlink
437.925 MHz FM)
MIR/SAFEX
PMS (145.985 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK)
Operational. The new modem is a Kantronics KPC-9612 Plus, Revision 8.1.
Please note the command set for this TNC is different than the previous MIR
TNC. MIREX suggests a copy of the KPC-9612 manual may help in understanding
the changes.
MIREX has created an Internet Web page containing information regarding
MIR and the various ham radio experiments taking place from the space station.
Please check out the pages for pending and proposed projects.
URLs are:
http://www.ik1sld.org/mirex.htm
http://www.geocities.com/~ik1sld/mirex.htm
[ANS thanks the MIREX team for this information]
RS-12
(Uplink, 21.210-21.250 MHz and 145.910-145.950 MHz, CW/SSB
Downlink 29.410-29.450 MHz, CW/SSB).
Operational, mode KA. The 15m ROBOT is operational.
RS-15 has been seeing recent heavy activity and good DX possibilities.
RS-15
(Uplink 145.858-145.898 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.354-29.394 MHz CW/SSB)
Operational. CW appears to be the most successful mode on RS-15.
RS-16
At this time only the beacons are operational.
Transponder information on RS-16.
Uplink = 145.915 - 145.948 MHz
Downlink = 29.415 - 29.448 MHz
Beacons = 29.408 and 29.451 MHz
Pwr 29 MHz Down = 1.2W /4W
Beacon 1 = 435.504 MHz
Beacon 2 = 435.548 MHz
Pwr 435 MHz Beacons = 1.6W
AO-10
(Uplink 435.030-435.180 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 145.975-145.825 MHz CW/USB)
Operational. Despite brief moments of deep QSB, AO-10's downlink
signals have been excellent even at apogee. Activity on AO-10 has been
increasing with many DX stations heard. NN0DJ recently worked DG4YFT,
IK0WGF, F4APM, DC1JU, SM1LPU, JA3CG, VR2XRW and UA3PAB with
good signals.
AO-10's apogee has continued to move into the northern hemisphere.
Apogee will continue to rise higher to the north for the rest of 1998,
peaking in December.
W4SM has updated his AO-10 web page, use the following URL:
http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/AO-10.html
[ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM, and Dan James, NN0DJ for this update]
AO-27
(Uplink 145.850 MHz FM
Downlink 436.792 MHz FM)
Operational. Widely used especially during weekend passes.
[ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control-op for this update]
FO-20
(Uplink 145.900-146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.80-435.90 MHz CW/USB)
Operational. FO-20 in mode JA continuously.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK for this information]
FO-29
Voice/CW Mode JA
(Uplink 145.900-146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.80-435.90 MHz CW/USB)
Digital Mode JD
(Uplink 145.850, 145.870, 145.910 MHz FM
Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK)
Operational. Currently in mode JA. Kazu, JJ1WTK, reports an
error has occurred in the digital operating platform and FO-29
has been returned to JA status for now. No operational schedule
or status update has been listed on the JARL Web site for the
satellite.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-060.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 060.08 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 1, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-060.08
KO-23
(Uplink 145.850, 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM)
Operational. Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-23 operating normally.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for this report]
KO-25
(Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 436.50 MHz FM)
Operational. Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-25 operating normally.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for this report]
OSCAR-11
(Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud PSK)
Beacon 2401.500 MHz
Operational. During the period of January 14th, to February 16, 1998,
Clive, G3CWV, reports good signals have been received from the
145.826 MHz beacon. Any reports of reception of the 2 meter beacon or
on 2401 MHz should be sent to g3cwv@amsat.org.
The telemetry is nominal.
[ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information]
AMSAT-OSCAR-16 (PACSAT)
(Uplink 145.90, 145.92, 145.94, 145.86 MHz FM, 1200 bps Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB, 1200 bps RC-BPSK 1200 Baud PSK)
Beacon 2401.1428 MHz
Operational. The S band transmitter is off. The satellite is working normally,
however, some depletion of battery levels has been noted.
Time is Fri Feb 27 23:57:46 1998 uptime is 1258/18:27:40.
+X (RX) Temp -5.448 D RX Temp 7.865 D
RC PSK BP Temp -1.817 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -0.002 D
+Y Array Temp -21.180 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -3.027 D
+Z Array Temp -11.499 D
RC PSK TX Out 0.798 W
+10V Bus 10.075 V (*)value under minimal limit
Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.455 Ifb= 0.179 I+10V= 0.303
TX:010C BCR:1E PWRC:59F BT: A WC:25 EDAC:24
General information and telemetry WOD files for Oscar 16 can
be found at the following URL:
http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/wod.htm
[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report]
DO-17 (DOVE)
(Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK)
Beacon 2401.220 MHz
Operational. The DOVE S band beacon is on. The 2 meter
transmitter is on (145.825 MHz). Telemetry is being sent about
every 30 seconds. A scanned image of Dove's QSL is available
at the 425DXNews web site:
http://www-dx.deis.unibo.it/htdx/
[ANS thanks Jim White, WD0E, for this update]
WEBERSAT (WO-18)
(Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25)
Not operational. WO-18 is in MBL mode after a recent software
crash. Attempts are being made to find and correct the cause of the
suspected seasonal crashes.
[ANS thanks the WO-18 Command Team for this news]
LUSAT-OSCAR-19
(Uplink 145.84, 145.86, 145.88, 145.90 MHz FM 1200 bps Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB, 1200 bps RC-BPSK)
Operating normally. The telemetry is nominal.
Time is Fri Feb 27 23:23:40 1998 uptime is 983/09:18:30
+X (RX) Temp -9.405 D RX Temp 0.131 D
RC PSK BP Temp -0.991 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -3.235 D
+Y Array Temp -18.940 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -2.113 D
+Z Array Temp -13.331 D
RC PSK TX Out 0.520 W
+10V Bus 10.300 V (*)value under nominal
Total Array C= 0.008 Bat Ch Cur=-0.277 Ifb= 0.159 I+10V= 0.125
TX:005 BCR:36 PWRC:303833 BT:2F WC:39
General information and telemetry samples can be found at:
http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/lo19.htm
[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report]
UO-22
(Uplink: 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.120 MHz FM)
Operational. Chris, G7UPN reports UO-22 is operating normally.
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, Operations Manager
of UO-22, for this report]
IO-26 (ITAMSAT)
Uplink 145.875, 145.900, 145.925, 145.950 MHz FM 1200 Baud PSK
Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB)
No report is available at this time.
Please send any amateur satellite news or repots to
ans-editor@amsat.org or to ANS Editor Dan James, NN0DJ,
at nn0dj@amsat.org.
/EX
Daniel (Dan) James
AMSAT News Service Bulletin Editor
Amateur callsign: NN0DJ
Grid Square EN-28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
e-mail: nn0dj@amsat.org