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[jamsat-news:924] * SpaceNews 14-Sep-98 *
SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0914
* SpaceNews 14-Sep-98 *
BID: $SPC0914
=========
SpaceNews
=========
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 1998
SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It
is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use.
* RS SATELLITE NEWS *
=====================
Andy Mirinov RK3KPK reported to Pat G3IOR that the original Aero-Cosmic
Laboratory RS3A command is now no longer operational, thereby leaving the
commanding for the RS satellites entirely to Alex Papkov in Kaluga City.
RS-12 is now in 'KT' mode - that is a single 21.210-21.250 MHz uplink to
provide a combined 29.411-29.451 MHz and 145.917-145.956 MHz downlink. As
Andy Mirinov has yet to meet up with current RS-Commander, Alex Papkov, to
get answers to some of the many questions asked him of RS10, RS-12, RS-15
and RS-16, the exact reason for switching the mode is not clear, but is
beleived to be for the following reason. RS-12 and 13 are a pair of separate
transponders mounted within the structure of a major scientific navigational
satellite, obtaining their power supplies from that source. While the
predecessors RS-10 and 11 (now redundant) were maintained in Mode 'A'
(145 MHz uplink with a 29 MHz downlink) transponder operation for most
of the time, RS-12 has until recently been mainly kept in 'KA' mode,
i.e. simultaneous 21 and 145 MHz uplinks to give a single mixed 29 MHz
downlink. From time to time, 'T' mode (a 21 MHz uplink to give a 145 MHz
downlink) usually in tandem with 'K' mode (the same 21 MHz uplink providing
a 29 MHz downlink) to give combined 'KT' mode, e.g. a single 29 MHz
downlink from both 21 MHz and 145 MHz will appear.
The major NAVSAT containing RS-12/13 transmits a powerful RTTY-like signal
quite close to the 144-146 MHz amateur band, and when this is commanded on
for use, the downlink becomes totally blocked from that VHF signal if the
145.910 - 145.950 MHz Mode A uplink receiver is left on. This renders the
2m to 10m 'A' mode useless, and the downlink from 21 MHz also. Thus, at
these times, the 145.910-145.950 MHz Mode A uplink receiver needs to be
commanded off to enable continuity of communications, hence the switch
to Mode 'K'.
[Info via Pat Gowen, G3IOR]
* TMSAT NEWS *
==============
Chris Jackson has posted 5 multispectral images received from TMSAT to
the following web site:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/amateur/tmsat/index.html
The images are each over 500kb in size. They are saved as JPG files so there
is some minor image quality loss associated with this representation, however
this is probably more desirable than downloading the full image which is
approximately 3.5MB!
The multispectral image was produced by combining the data from the Narrow
Angle Camera, sensing in the green, red, and near-IR spectra. Each image has
1020 x 1020 pixels, covering an area of 100 x 100 km at mean ground resolution
of 98 meters / pixel.
Red areas indicate healthy vegetation (due to the strong near-IR reflectance
of chlorophyll). Urban areas are generally blue-grey. The different colors
of fields provides an indication of the state of vegetation (bare soil,
marsh, young or mature vegetation, etc).
[Info via Chris Jackson, G7UPN]
* MISS AMERICA SPECIAL EVENT *
==============================
On 1998-Sep-13 and 1998-Sep-15 1998-Sep-20, a Miss America Pageant special
event station using the callsign K2BR will be operating on HF (see QST or
www.arrl.org for HF freqs and schedule) as well as the AO-27 and possibly
FO-20 and FO-29 satellites. The AO-27 passes K2BR will be activated on
are the passes that are an hour before and an hour after noon EST (1600 UTC)
(two hours maximum time frame). An attempt will be made to work at least
one pass a day. K2BR will be running 5 watts of uplink power from FM29,
Atlantic City, New Jersey. Special K2BR Miss America QSL cards will be
sent out by the Miss America Pageant organization.
[Info via Jeff, KB2WQM]
* DIGITAL VOICE VIA LO-19 *
===========================
Dirk, ON1DLL reports using the WinGT voice packet program to digipeat
voice messages through the LUSAT-OSCAR-19 satellite. Dirk reports good
results and is looking for others wishing to do the same. Dirk can
be reached on e-mail at on1dll@amsat.org, via packet radio at
ON1DLL@ON5VL.#LG.BEL, or via the AO-16, KO-23, or KO-25 pacsats.
[Info via Dirk, ON1DLL]
* STS-95 REMINDER *
===================
Just a reminder to all SAREX enthusiasts that the upcoming STS-95
shuttle flight next month will NOT carry a SAREX package.
* THANKS! *
===========
Thanks to all who recently sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews,
especially:
DL2MAJ PU2RPD G3IOR EI6EH
* 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
<<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>>
<<=- Serving the planet since 1987 -=>>
/EX
--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- John A. Magliacane, KD2BD -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Internet : kd2bd@amsat.org | Voice : +1.732.224.2948
Satellite : AO-16, LO-19, KO-25 | Morse : -.- -.. ..--- -... -..
Packet : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA | WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
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