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[jamsat-news:906] ANS 221
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 221
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-221.01
TMSAT-1 AND TECHSAT-1B STATUS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 221.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 9, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-221.01
Amateurs radio's two newest satellites, TMSAT-1 and TechSat-1B, are doing
very well after reaching one full month in space following a successful
(joint) launch from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome last July.
Both satellites are still undergoing initial loading of flight software.
Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, tells ANS that TMSAT commissioning is
proceeding rather slowly due to a number of reasons. Jackson says ground
control stations have been operating the downlink transmitter only over
certain parts of the globe, mainly Bangkok and Surrey. The satellite is
also performing a number of new tasks that have not previously been used
before, and this is taking some time to get fully operational in orbit.
On Friday, August 7th the TMSAT gravity gradient boom was deployed
following a command from HS0AM, the Bangkok control station. Telemetry data
from the deployment showed that the 6.2-meter boom deployed perfectly with
less than 1.5 degrees of oscillation from vertical.
Currently, the attitude will continue to be improved and testing of the
spacecraft payloads will commence.
Shlomo Menuhin, 4X1AS reports TechSat-1B is also responding well to ground
control commands. 4X1AS tells ANS the satellite recently took its first
picture from space, centered over the French Riviera near San Tropez. The
image is available for viewing on the worldwide web using the following
URL:
ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/images/TechSat/Cam2.jpg
Both satellites are expected to be available for general amateur use
shortly.
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO and Shlomo Menuhin, 4X1AS
for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-221.02
TMSAT and TECHSAT RECEIVE OSCAR NUMBERS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 221.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 9, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-221.02
Responding to a question from Keith Baker, KB1SF, Executive Vice President
of AMSAT-NA, both the TMSAT and TECHSAT teams have answered they wished
OSCAR numbers to help designate their new spacecraft. KB1SF also passed
along congratulations from all AMSAT-NA members to both teams on their
outstanding success.
The assignment of consecutive OSCAR numbers to new Amateur Radio spacecraft
is a tradition that dates from the launch of the very first Amateur Radio
Satellite -- OSCAR 1. In order for an OSCAR number to be assigned, the
satellite must successfully achieve orbit and one or more transmitters must
be successfully activated in the Amateur Radio bands. Then, the
builders/owners of the satellite must formally request that a consecutive
OSCAR number be assigned to their satellite once the first two requirements
are accomplished.
Speaking for the TMSAT team, Chris Jackson G7UPN / ZL2TPO, said that "I
have spoken with our Thai colleagues and they are happy for TMSAT to be
named TMSAT-OSCAR-31."
Likewise, Shlomo Menuhin, 4X1AS, speaking on behalf of the TECHSAT team
said "we at the TECHSAT project agree to all the terms and would be glad
if the TECHSAT-1A will have the OSCAR number GO-32.
The letter G stands for GURWIN."
KB1SF has informed ANS that, in the light of this information, it is now
appropriate to refer to the two new amateur satellites as 'TMSAT-OSCAR-31'
(or simply TO-31') and 'GURWIN-OSCAR-32' (or simply 'GO-32') respectively.
[ANS thanks Keith Baker, KB1SF, AMSAT-NA Executive Vice President, for the
information that went into this bulletin]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-221.03
16TH AMSAT-NA ANNUAL MEETING AND SPACE SYMPOSIUM
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 221.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 9, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-221.03
ANS is pleased to report the registration form and agenda for the upcoming
AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting and Space Symposium is now available on the
worldwide web. Point your browser to the following URL:
http://pages.prodigy.com/DXHF93A
This site is also linked with the AMSAT-NA page.
The symposium will be held October 16-18, 1998 at the Battlefield Inn in
Vicksburg, Mississippi. Presentations will be given on a diverse range of
amateur radio satellite topics including:
* The History of the Amateur Radio Satellite Program
by Martin Davidoff, K2UBC
* Antarctica and Amateur Radio
by Ron Ross, KE6JAB
* Working Satellites From Over 100 Grid Squares
by Chuck Duey, KI0AG
* Intermediate Circular Orbits for Amateur Radio Satellites
by Ken Ernandes, N2WWD
* The Year 2000 Transition - Your PC and AMSAT Software
by Roy Welch, W0SL
* J-Station - An Update
by John Melton, G0ORX
* A Self-Phasing Turnstile for Mode J Satellite Reception
by Tony Monteiro, AA2TX
* TRACKNET: An AMSAT Mobile Satellite System
by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR
* Development of Yet Another Housekeeping Unit for Phase 3D
by James Miller, G3RUH
* SETI on the Cheap: Affording the Ultimate DX
by Paul Shuch, N6TX
* An EZ-Sat Update
by Fred Winter, N2XOU and Ken Ernandes, N2WWD
* The Citizen Explorer Mission
by Jeff Baltrush
* SAPPHIRE: Stanford's First Amateur Radio Satellite
by Bob Twiggs, KE6QMD
* The MOST Space Astronomy Mission
by Kieran Carroll, Robert Zee, and Jaymie Matthews
* JAWSAT Update
by Randolph Kohlwey, N7SFI
* International Space Station Status
by Will Marchant, KC6RCL
*The P3D Spacecraft Thermal Design
by Dick Jansson, WD4FAB and Keith Baker, KB1SF
Other (numerous) activities are planned during the symposium including
sessions devoted to Phase 3D and an introduction to amateur radio
satellites. This beginner's session on amateur radio satellites will be
held on Friday evening and will be open to participation by the general
public.
Many diverse activities are planned for the Saturday evening banquet
including the traditional prize drawing.
The featured guest speaker for the banquet will be ARRL Vice President,
Joel Harrison, W5ZN.
An AMSAT Area Coordinator breakfast is scheduled for Sunday morning. Later
that morning, all participants can take a field trip to the US Army
Engineers Waterways Experiment Station.
The following options are available for traveling between the Jackson
International Airport (JAN) and the Battlefield Inn in Vicksburg:
1) The Battlefield Inn has established the following scheduled shuttle
runs:
Jackson International Airport to Battlefield Inn:
* Thursday, 15 OCT 98: 1400, 1700, 2000 CDT
* Friday, 16 OCT 98: 1000, 1400 CDT
Battlefield Inn to Jackson International Airport:
* Sunday, 18 OCT 98: 0700, 1130, 1500 CDT
The fare is $9.00 per person each way and is payable during check-in to the
Battlefield Inn.
2) The Gofer Girls (601-634-2574) provide airport transportation between
Jackson and Vicksburg on an as-needed basis. The fare is $18.00 each way.
3) A variety of rental car agencies (Avis, Hertz, Budget, etc.) provide
rental service from the Jackson International Airport. The rental cost will
vary.
The Jackson Amateur Radio Club will host an AMSAT Welcome Table at the
Jackson International Airport on Thursday and Friday to help assist with
transportation needs.
The deadline for early-bird registration is September 15, 1998. For
additional information about the annual meeting and symposium contact Eddie
Pettis, N5JGK at:
n5jgk@amsat.org
The entire gang in Vicksburg says "see ya'all this October! "
[ANS thanks Eddie Pettis, N5JGK and the entire Symposium Working Group for
their hard work and dedication]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-221.04
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 221.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 9, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-221.04
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** Retired NBC science reporter and SAREX Working Group Chairman, Roy Neal,
K6DUE, got to know astronaut Alan Shepard very well in the early days of
the space program. As reported by ANS, Shepard --the first US astronaut
launched into space-- died recently at age 74. While Shepard never was
interested in ham radio, Neal says he was very aware of radio and
communication. "I was the Pool Producer for his Mercury flight," he said.
"The combined networks built a special mobile unit to feed some 100
networks worldwide." Neal said NASA had the networks fire up its broadcast
system to make sure it would not generate RFI that could affect Shepard's
spacecraft. It was clean. "Later that day, Shepard accosted me. 'Are we
compatible?' he asked. I retorted, 'If you mean RF, yes we are. Socially
I'm not so sure!' Neal said network employees who were hams used that
background to advantage. "The coverage from the [aircraft] carrier was
provided by a pair of Collins KWM-2s, which the Navy let us install," Neal
recalled. "When President Kennedy preempted all Navy circuits to talk to
Shepard aboard the carrier, we had a great exclusive. The whole world,
including NASA, had to turn to the radio-TV pool to find out what was going
on!" --ARRL Letter
** Russian space officials said recently that they have indefinitely
postponed plans to orbit a huge space-mirror that would illuminate Siberia
and other areas of the Earth during long northern nights. The space agency
doesn't have the funds a spokesman said. Long-range plans had called for
multiple orbiting mirrors to provide permanent artificial moonlight. --
Morrock News Service
** The real time data flow from the primary space weather GOES-9 spacecraft
has been terminated following the arrival of the new GOES-10 spacecraft to
the GOES-9 location. This change was required in order to replace the
ailing GOES-9 spacecraft, which was suffering from attitude control
problems caused by wearing and excessively high bearing temperatures. --
NLRS Reflector and WB1HBU
** NASA's Jennifer McCarter tells ANS that the Johnson Space Center has
modified its contract with United Space Alliance (USA) of Houston to
include more than $900 million in work on the Space Shuttle's solid rocket
booster and other shuttle elements. -- ANS
** Love it or hate it, the ARRL's recent license restructuring plan
certainly has generated considerable debate and controversy within the
Amateur Radio community and gotten licensees thinking about what's good and
what's not so good about the current system. ARRL Directors report they're
getting lots of e-mail on both sides. -- ARRL Letter
** Call for papers: The ARRL seeks articles for the next volume of the very
popular 'The ARRL Antenna Compendium' series. An article should be
previously unpublished and should deal with antennas, transmission lines
and/or propagation. Submit articles (or solid ideas for possible articles)
to Dean Straw, N6BV, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 or via e-mail
to n6bv@arrl.org. --ARRL Letter
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-221.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 221.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 9, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-221.05
MIR/SAFEX
SAFEX II 70 cm Repeater
Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz
Downlink 437.950 MHz FM
Semi-operational.
Mike, N1JEZ reports the MIR/SAFEX repeater has been active recently.
SAFEX II 70 cm QSO Mode
Uplink 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz
Downlink 437.925 MHz FM
Semi-operational.
PMS
Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK
Operational.
The current crew onboard Mir are Talgat Musabayev and Nikolai Budarin. They
speak and read Russian only. Any messages addressed as personal to R0MIR
will not be understood unless it is in Russian. MIREX is again allowing
R0MIR-1 for store-and-forward message traffic.
WA6LIE reminds all stations that in order to send Personal Mail to other
stations you must address it to a valid callsign. Any personal mail
addressed to a non-amateur callsign can not be read by anyone and is a
waste of TNC memory. WA6LIE asks all stations to please read your TNC
manual on how to address messages.
The PBBS is running a Kantronics KPC-9612 + V.8.1 TNC. The commands are
similar to most PBBS and BBS systems.
MIREX has announced an on going APRS School Days Test. MIREX is allowing
schools to use APRS for position and status reports via R0MIR. Non-school
stations are asked to refrain from using APRS type transmissions or beacons
via R0MIR.
[ANS thanks Scott Avery, WA6LIE, and the MIREX team for Mir status
information]
RS-12
Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB
Operational, mode KA.
RS-12 continues to be the most popular of the current RS 'easy sat' series.
RS-15
Uplink 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/SSB
Semi-operational.
The RS-15 TLM beacon has apparently started working again, although
intermittently.
RS-16
The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational. Attempts to command the Mode A
transponder on have been unsuccessful.
AO-10
Uplink 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB
Operational.
Stacey Mills, W4SM reports another sleep phase appears to be beginning.
"I suspect that the rotational speed is so slow as to be incapable of
holding
a stable attitude heading. Hence, we may be entering a time of chaotic
useful periods and sleep periods which cannot be predicted.
W4SM has more information about the satellite at the following URL:
http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/AO-10.html
[ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM for his AO-10 status information and web
site]
AO-27
Uplink 145.850 MHz FM
Downlink 436.792 MHz FM
Operational.
AO-27 TEPR States are currently:
4 = 36 = 18 Minutes
5 = 72 = 36 Minutes
This means AO-27's transmitter turns on 18 minutes after entering the Sun
and stays on for 18 minutes. AO-27's transmitter is turned off at all other
times during the orbit. N4USI reminds stations that this happens on every
orbit, approximately 14.2 times a day. The current TEPR settings will cause
the satellite to be on during the daytime at northern latitudes.
[ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control-op for this update]
FO-20
Uplink 145.900 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB
Operational. FO-20 in mode JA continuously.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK for the FO-20 reports]
FO-29
Voice/CW Mode JA
Uplink 145.900 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB
Operational.
Digital Mode JD
Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM
Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK
Not operational, the satellite is in JA (voice) mode.
Kazu, JJ1WTK, tells ANS that OBC bit error investigation continues. The
JARL command recently issued two statements:
1) FO-29 will be stay still in mode JA because the frequency investigation
of the OBC bit errors. The command team would like reports from radio
amateurs who can receive the value of TLM channel 5. The information is
the fifth item after HI HI on CW. The normal value of channel 5 is '00'.
Reports should be sent to lab@jarl.or.jp
2) FO-29 will be in 'full illumination' (always illuminated from the Sun)
starting in mid-August. The operation mode may be changed in
part due to anticipated temperature rise of the satellite.
A new statement will be released from the JARL on August 17th.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-221.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 221.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 9, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-221.06
KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Operational. The telemetry is nominal.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC for this report]
KO-25
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 436.50 MHz FM
Operational. The telemetry is nominal.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC for this report]
UO-22
Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.120 MHz FM
Operational.
More information on the satellite is available at the following URL:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, Operations Manager of UO-22 for
this report]
OSCAR-11
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK
Beacon 2401.500 MHz
Operational.
In response to many requests for information about methods of decoding
OSCAR-11 signals, a package of hardware information has been added to the
satellite web site. The site also contains some software for capturing
data, decoding ASCII telemetry and WOD information.
The URL is http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/
Beacon reception reports should be sent to: g3cwv@amsat.org.
[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
Operating normally.
The AO-16 command team has authorized an APRS experiment on AO-16 to
explore the use of the 1200-baud PACSAT for APRS position/status reporting.
The test periods will run each Tuesday from 0000 to 2359 UTC.
The telemetry is nominal.
Time is Sat Aug 01 12:00:48 1998 uptime is 1413/06:28:01
BCR Set Point 130.254 C BCR Load Cur 0.328 A
BCR Input Cur 0.403 A BCR Output Cur 0.345 A
Bat 2 Temp 1.209 D Baseplt Temp 0.603 D
RC PSK TX Out 0.457 W RC PSK BP Temp 3.629 D
RC PSK HPA Tmp 3.629 D +Y Array Temp 0.603 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp 1.814 D +Z Array Temp 10.285 D
Total Array C= 0.358 Bat Ch Cur= 0.017 Ifb= 0.045 I+10V= 0.283
TX:010B BCR:86 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:49
General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at:
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
Currently non-operational.
The 145.825 MHz and 2401.220 MHz downlinks are off the air. No
additional information is available at this time.
WEBERSAT (WO-18)
Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB 1200 Baud PSK AX.25
Currently non-operational.
WO-18 is in MBL mode after a software crash. No additional information is
available at this time.
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
Currently non-operational, unknown status.
Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU reports LUSAT/Oscar 19 apparently has stopped
transmitting. Ground control station LU8DYF is attempting to regain
control.
No additional information is available at this time.
[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report]
ITAMSAT IO-26
Uplink 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM 1200 Baud PSK
Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB
Semi-operational.
Telemetry is reported as being downloaded on 435.822 MHz at 1200 baud PSK.
No additional information is available at this time.
TMSAT-1 TO-31
Downlink 436.923 MHz
The TMSAT-1 micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian
Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998. The satellite is still undergoing
initial loading of flight software. The satellite is expected to be
available for general amateur use shortly.
Stations that can capture telemetry from the satellite are asked to
send a report to;
C.Jackson@ee.surrey.ac.uk
A brief overview of the TMSAT satellite and commissioning plan is available
at the following URL:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/amateur/tmsat/tmsat_commissioni
ng_plan.html.
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, for this report]
TechSat-1B GO-32
Downlink 435.325 435.225 MHz
HDLC telemetry framed so a TNC in KISS mode will decode it
The TechSat-1B micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian
Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998 The satellite is still undergoing
initial loading of flight software. The satellite is expected to be
available for general amateur use shortly.
The satellite does not have a continuos beacon, but does transmit a
9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (for about 3 seconds in length), currently
on 435.225 MHz.
The TechSat team has also constructed a home page about TechSat. To view
the site, point your web browser to:
http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/
[ANS thanks Shlomo Menuhin, 4X1AS for this information]
--ANS END---
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports 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 EN28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
e-mail: nn0dj@amsat.org
Michelle Ervin
AMSAT News Service Assistant Bulletin Editor
Amateur callsign: KA9FUL
Grid Square EM89du
Springfield, Ohio U.S.A.
e-mail: ka9ful@amsat.org
----
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