[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
[jamsat-news:976] ANS 333
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 333
ANS is a weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio
Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a
Worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active
interest in designing, building, launching and communicating
through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
The AMSAT News Service mailing list (ANS) is from the
AMSAT.ORG system administered by AMSAT-NA.
Currently, AMSAT-NA mailing lists cover the following topics:
* General satellite discussion (AMSAT-BB)
* Orbit data (KEPS)
* Manned space missions (SAREX)
* District of Columbia area (AMSAT-DC)
* New England (AMSAT-NE)
More information is available at the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/listserv/menu.html
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-333.01
SAREX 15TH ANNIVERSARY
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 333.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 29, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-333.01
The liftoff of the STS-9 Space Shuttle mission 15 years ago this past
week ushered in a new, pioneering era of Amateur Radio in space. On
November 28, 1983, the Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off from Launch
Pad 39 with great anticipation, excitement and fanfare from the entire
International Amateur Radio community.
On-board this flight was veteran astronaut and Amateur Radio operator
Owen Garriott, W5LFL. With him was the first human-operated Amateur
Radio station in space, a Motorola 2-meter FM handheld transceiver
and a window-mounted antenna. W5LFL also had interface cabling to
record the much anticipated in-orbit contacts.
Roy Neal, K6DUE, Chairman of the SAREX Working Group, remembers
it well:
"We were given a golden opportunity by NASA. The opportunity to
show the world what happens when you marry Amateur Radio and
space flight. So we set out to deliver the maximum number of contacts
worldwide -- and Owen delivered. He talked with hams from every walk
of life, from King Hussein of Jordan, to entire groups of amateurs who
had gathered in England, the United States, Germany, Australia and
Japan. He delivered contacts that were sparkling in their clarity and
outstanding in their content. They gave us the thrill of working the
ultimate DX."
Owen's first ham radio contact --with Lance Collister, WA1JXN, (now
W7GJ) of Frenchtown, Montana-- opened the door for the general public
to talk to an orbiting space crew. Prior to this historic moment, only
Mission Control, Presidents, heads of state, and other high-ranking
dignitaries were given this opportunity. By the time his ten-day flight was
completed, Owen had made 2-way contact with over 300 hams around
the globe. W5LFL's flight provided tens of thousands of hams their first
opportunity to receive radio signals from an orbiting space vehicle. In
addition, many school students participated in mission activities and
heard the W5LFL downlink signals live in their classrooms.
Rosalie White, WA1STO, head of the ARRL's Educational Activities
Department and a member of the SAREX Working Group stated:
"The first ham in space mission with Owen on-board was not planned to
be a school group educational activity --it was really an opportunity to
make amateur radio shine-- however, the tremendous excitement
generated by ham radio in space and the interest in linking SAREX with
education eventually snowballed into quality educational events."
Since its modest beginnings on STS-9 in 1983, the SAREX payload has
become the most 'frequent flyer' payload in the Space Shuttle Program.
To date, SAREX has flown on 24 Space Shuttle Missions, about 25% of
the entire Shuttle missions flown to date. This feat could not have been
accomplished without the support of the NASA Astronaut Office and the
volunteer trainers at the NASA Johnson Space Center who work with
astronauts to help them become licensed Amateur Radio operators.
"So far we have 86 astronauts that have achieved ham radio license
status," says Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL, the SAREX Principal Investigator
at JSC. "Now," he added, "we're well on the way to flying some very
sophisticated hardware in the International Space Station."
The SAREX program has had an opportunity to accomplish a number of
pioneering firsts for ham in space and for NASA operations. These
include:
** The first uplink and downlink of SSTV pictures on the STS-51F flight in
1985 with Tony England, W0ORE
** The first computer-to-computer radio link (Packet Radio) on the
STS-35 flight with Ron Parise, WA4SIR, in 1990
** The first video uplink on the 1991 STS-37 flight with Commander Ken
Cameron, KB5AWP, operating the station
** The first round-trip video on STS-56 in 1993 and the first backup
communications during a TDRSS satellite outage with the STS-47
mission in 1992
The SAREX Payload is primarily flown as an educational outreach
activity. Hundreds of schools have had a pre-scheduled interview with an
orbiting crewmember and tens of thousands of students have
participated directly in the hundreds of pre-scheduled contacts. The
educational activities that schools have initiated prior to and after a
SAREX educational event have spanned the entire spectrum of
ideas -- including developing a 'Shuttle Bus', complete with an Amateur
Radio 'Mission Control' inside, sponsoring ham radio classes for
Students, participating in the joint SAREX/SAFEX antenna test on the
STS-55 mission and providing direct uplink/downlink support to other
schools as a Telebridge Amateur Radio station.
The launch of the Mir space station in 1986 opened additional
U.S.-based ham radio operations in space. Ship-to-ship contacts were
accomplished by several U.S. astronauts and Russian cosmonauts
using SAREX and the ham radio equipment on Mir. These were
accomplished long before NASA and the Russian Space Agency
decided on a partnership for the International Space Station. When U.S.
astronauts had extended stays on the Mir space station, ham radio
was an important component of their day-to-day activities. Through the
cooperation and support of the Amateur Radio communities in Russia,
Germany and the United States, the U.S. astronauts were granted
permission to use the ham gear on Mir. The astronauts used the
radio equipment to communicate with hams on the ground, with their
friends and family and with SAREX-selected schools. In fact Mike Foale,
KB5UAC, who operated on several previous SAREX Shuttle missions
(STS-37 and STS-56), used the ham radio station on Mir to
communicate the status of Mir and the welfare of the crew after the
Spektr module collided with the spacecraft in June 1997.
Since the time of W5LFL's flight 15 years ago, the internationally-based
human spaceflight radio community has done many tremendous things
both for Amateur Radio and for education. Frank Bauer, KA3HDO,
AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human Spaceflight Programs, reflected
his sentiments of this historic event:
"I want to take this opportunity to thank and to congratulate the hundreds
of volunteers around the world who have taken the dream that was
shared by Owen, the ARRL, AMSAT-NA and NASA, and turned it into a
reality that has benefited the worldwide community of radio amateurs as
well as students in classrooms. Through your efforts, we have Amateur
Radio stations that have flown on Space Shuttles and on Mir, and we are
on the threshold of installing a permanent Amateur Radio station on
ISS".
Frank continued, "On behalf of the SAREX Working Group and as a U.S.
delegate to the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) program, I look forward to the continued cooperation of all the
international partners that comprise ARISS -- as we jointly forge a new,
exciting future for Amateur Radio in space".
To all those who have made SAREX such a tremendous success and to
Owen Garriott, W5LFL, who helped start it all -- thank you and
congratulations!
[ANS thanks Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT-NA Vice President/Human
Spaceflight Programs, the SAREX Working Group, NASA, and the ARRL
for making a wonderful dream come true for many Amateur Radio
operators the world over]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-333.02
GENERAL ACCESS FOR TMSAT-1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 333.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 29, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-333.02
Good news! Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, tells ANS that TMSAT-1
(TO-31) is now open for general access by Amateur Radio operators
worldwide. Chris tells ANS that TMSAT commissioning has been
completed and it shows that most of the spacecraft systems are
operating correctly. Normal access will allow operators to use the store
and forward communications on the spacecraft, and also download the
high-resolution multispectral images.
G7UPN hopes that Amateur Radio operators will take advantage of
the high-resolution multispectral images available from TO-31 "and keep
other traffic to a minimum." According to Chris, "due to current limitations
with on-board memory, images will only be available on the satellite for a
few days after they are taken. If other files (especially large files) are
uploaded to the satellite, this will ultimately increase the amount of time
taken to download images and they may therefore be deleted before
they are completed."
During the commissioning process, a problem with the downlink
transmitter was found, and G7UPN tells ANS that "unfortunately, the
transmitter is still causing some problems and operation is not currently
available over most areas." Amateurs in Europe and Asia will find the
downlink 'on' most of the time, and it will remain on for between 15 and
30 minutes at a time. In the coming weeks the transmitter will be
switched on over more areas and allow much wider access TO-31.
"Testing will continue," says Chris, "and during some of these tests,
access may be limited to command stations only. If at any time the BBS
is in a 'SHUT' mode as displayed in WiSP (or any of the digital
programs), please do not attempt to access the satellite as it may delay
any command string that is underway."
TO-31 Information
------------------------
Downlink 436.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
Uplink 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
BBS Callsign TMSAT1-12
Broadcast Callsign TMSAT1-11
The TMSAT-1 micro-satellite was successfully launched from the
Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998.
[ANS thanks Chris G7UPN / ZL2TPO, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-333.03
27TH ANNUAL SKN ON OSCAR
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 333.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 29, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-333.03
AMSAT's Ray Soifer, W2RS, tells ANS that ham operators the world
over are "most cordially invited" to join in the AMSAT 27th Annual
Straight Key Night (SKN) sponsored by AMSAT-North America for
Amateur Radio satellite enthusiasts worldwide.
According to W2RS, it's entirely unofficial; there are no rules, no scoring
and best of all -- no need to send in a log. The only thing that satellite
operators need to do is call CQ-SKN in the CW passband segment of
any OSCAR satellite from 0000 to 2359 UTC on January 1, 1999, (or)
answer a CQ-SKN call from another station. OSCAR Zero (EME)
contacts also count.
Of course, all SKN operating must be done with a straight hand key.
In addition, participating sat-ops are encouraged to nominate someone
they worked for recognition as having the 'best fist'. To send such a
nomination, please address it via e-mail to:
w2rs@amsat.org (or) via packet radio to:
W2RS@WA2SNA or W2RS@GB7HSN
Nominations will also be accepted via the W2RS callbook address.
Those nominated will be featured in a future W2RS bulletin to be
sent to all the Amateur Radio publications and posted via ANS to packet
radio systems and the Internet -- in early February 1999.
[ANS thanks Ray Soifer, W2RS, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-333.04
AMSAT SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 333.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 29, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-333.02
If you missed the recent AMSAT Space Symposium in Vicksburg,
Mississippi, you can still check out the daily happenings and read the
technical information presented during the Symposium. The Proceedings
of the AMSAT-NA 16th Space Symposium held October 16-18, 1998, in
Vicksburg, Mississippi, is now available from either the AMSAT-NA
office or from the ARRL.
For more information on how to order the 1998 AMSAT-NA Symposium
Proceedings, contact AMSAT-NA secretary Martha Saragovitz at:
E-mail: martha@amsat.org
Telephone: 301-589-6062
AMSAT-NA Office
850 Sligo Ave. Suite 600
Silver Spring, MD 20910-4703
The 1998 AMSAT Proceedings is also available from the ARRL, order
Item 7024. More information is available by calling (toll free)
888-277-5289 or visit the ARRL web site at the following URL:
http://www.arrl.org
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA secretary Martha Saragovitz, and the
ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-333.05
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 333.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 29, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-333.05
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** This month we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first amateur
transatlantic two-way communication. It was not until the fourth
and final transatlantic tests in November 1923 that ARRL Traffic
Manager Fred Schnell, 1MO, and--a little later--John Reinartz, 1XAM,
would work Leon Deloy, 8AB, in France. Now, 75 years later, hams
bridge the Atlantic routinely -- not only on HF, but with both low and high
Earth orbit Amateur Radio satellites. --ARRL and ANS
** AMSAT Area Coordinator Bruce, KK5DO, reports the Houston AMSAT
Net will be moving from KU to C-band satellite feed by December 1st.
The new feed will be on GE-1, transponder 12, using a 5.7 MHz audio
feed. KK5DO told ANS "we are very pleased to be moving to C-Band
and hope that all those who lost our signal when we went to KU-Band
will once again rejoin us." For more information, visit the
KK5DO/Houston AMSAT Net web site at http://www.amsatnet.com.
--Bruce, KK5DO
** Three small malfunctions have been reported with the recently
launched Russian module of the ISS. One of eight onboard batteries is
malfunctioning, humidity is higher than expected, and one antenna is not
working properly. A shuttle crew will visit the module shortly, and they
will investigate the problems, which NASA is calling minor and problems
that can be easily sorted out. --Morrock News Service
** Mineo, JE9PEL, reports capturing SEDSAT-1 data on November 23rd,
26th, 27th and 28th. Chris, GW6KZZ, reports the "satellite is still alive
and well as it passed over Wales." Dirk, ON1DLL, who is active on
AO-16, KO-23 and KO-25, also copied the SEDSAT downlink.
--AMSAT-BB
** AMSAT-LU is in the last phase of its next satellite - VoxSat-1. The
spacecraft is to be launched aboard a Russian orbiter, with a crossband
FM repeater, parrot repeater, voice beacon and more. The bird will
feature a downlink power of about two watts. The expected launch date
in unknown at this point. --AMSAT-BB
** Fred, KD1HH, reminds all that U.S. postage goes to 33 cents in
January, suggesting that stateside hams send some 1-cent stamps to
QSL bureau managers to help cover the increase. --3905 Net
** Looking for a homebuilt antenna for working AO-27? Doug, KA2UPW,
has a wooden boom Quagi design with cord locks holding the director
elements and a spool assembly for the spacers on the director and
driven loops. This allows for quick assembly/disassembly of the whole
antenna. Pictures and details are available at the following web
site: http://members.aol.com/dquagliana/beginner.html. --AMSAT-BB
** W9IP and W5VZF both report satellite operators may be interested
in NLSA's online tracking program 'OrbitView'. Use this URL for more
information -- http://www.nlsa.com/orbitview/welcome.html.
OrbitView tracks both the Shuttle and Mir in real time. --AMSAT-BB
** Andy, KB7UV, says there is some new material at his safety web site.
Aimed primarily toward engineers who operate microwave remote trucks,
much of the information is also applicable to ham radio antenna safety as
well. Point your browser to http://fox5atlanta.com/ENG/. --Newsline
** A University of California scientist may have discovered a chunk of the
impactor that scientists believe snuffed out 70 percent of the species of
life on Earth 65 million years ago. Frank Kyte writes in the November
issue of 'Nature' about a 2.5-millimeter-wide fossil meteorite extracted
from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. He maintains that the pebble is a
piece of an asteroid that struck the Yucatan Peninsula.
--Sky and Telescope
** If you're interested in Amateur Radio stamps, check out the web site of
WJ8C at the following URL: http://www.bright.net/~wj8c/. --ARRL Letter
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-333.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 333.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 29, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-333.06
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.
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 PBBS is running a Kantronics KPC-9612 + V.8.1 TNC. The
commands are similar to most PBBS and BBS systems.
November, 1998 marks the 10th year of Amateur Radio activity from
Mir. ANS congratulates MIREX and everyone associated with the
wonderful experience of ham radio activity aboard the Mir space station.
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.
Dave, KC7RKH/4, tells ANS he is "having a great time with unproto
connects through Mir," adding, "it's what I've wanted to do with ham
radio all along and now I'd like to start working some of the other
satellites as well." Welcome aboard Dave!
Scott, WA6LIE, has a set of instructions on how to work the Mir space
station. Copies of the instructions are available from Scott by e-mail at
wa6lie@juno.com, or by packet at wa6lie@wa6lie.#wcca.ca.usa.noam.
[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
Downlink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 29.408 MHz
Robot Uplink 21.129 MHz Downlink 29.454 MHz
Last reported to be semi-operational, beacon only.
RS-13
Uplink 21.260 MHz to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB
Uplink 145.960 MHz to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.460 MHz to 29.500 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 145.960 to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 29.504 MHz
Robot Uplink 21.140 MHz Downlink 29.458 MHz
Last reported in mode K (from Jerry, K5OE).
The RS-12/13 satellite has seen many recent changes in operation
during the past weeks. Modes K, T, KT and simultaneous RS-13
operation have all been reported by a number of stations.
No official word from the satellite controllers has been received.
ANS recommends monitoring each satellite carefully to determine the
transponder in operation and which mode it is operating in.
Bill, KA7YAO, reports the RS-13 beacon was copied 5X7 as was his
10-meter downlink during a recent pass of the spacecraft. Veronica,
tells ANS that RS-13 has also been heard at IK3ZAW, with many
stateside stations copied on the transponder.
RS-12/13 command is now in the hands of Alex Papkov, in
Kaluga City, Russia.
RS-15
Uplink 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 29.352 MHz (intermittent)
Semi-operational, mode A, using a 2-meter uplink and a 10-meter
downlink.
John, KD2JF, reports on a recent RS-15 pass with good signals, he could
hear his downlink 5X5 for about 1/3 of the pass. Bill, KA7YAO, tells ANS
he also made several calls with a nice downlink on RS-15 recently.
Dave, WB6LLO, reports he has prepared a "quick and dirty" set of
operating instructions for RS-15 at the following URL:
http://users.aol.com/dguimont
RS-18/Sputnik 41
Downlink 145.812 MHz FM
Russian cosmonauts successfully launched RS-18/Sputnik 41 on
November 10, 1998, during a spacewalk from the Mir space station.
The spacecraft is just under 8 inches in diameter, weighs almost 9
pounds and carries a 200-mW transmitter. RS-18 has no solar cells and
the expected operational lifetime is approximately 30 days.
Recent RS-18 reception reports have been received from Kevin, AC5DK,
who copied RS-18 after finishing a clean sweep in the November SS
contest! Other reports have been received from SP6QKP, F6AGR,
KH2PM, KC7RKH/4, and KD5DAY.
Hank, N1LTV, tells ANS he has put together a 'Sputnik-41 Telemetry
Assistant' software program that may be of help to those monitoring
RS-18. The software tacks the internal temperature of the spacecraft,
recording the report in Fahrenheit and/or Celsius rounded to a tenth of
a degree. The free program is available for downloading at:
http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/3161/hablic.htm
Sputnik 41 information is available at the following URL:
http://www.ccr.jussieu.fr/physio/f6bvp/
A computer .wav file of the actual received signal can also be found at:
http://www.ik1sld.org/sputnik41.htm
Gerard, F6FAO, suggests the following address for RS-18 QSL
requests:
AMSAT-France
RS-18 QSL Manager
14 bis rue des Gourlis
92 500 Rueil-Malmaison
France
The list of received QSL's by the French QSL manager is available at the
following link (note: the list changes daily as cards are received):
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ascerland/sp41QSL.htm
RS-18 temperature reports are being requested by F6FAO. Date, UTC
time, frequency of tone, name and grid square location should be
included in the report. Stations may e-mail this information to:
f6fao@amsat.org
[ANS thanks Gerard Auvray, F6FAO, for this information]
OSCAR 10 AO-10
Uplink 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB
Beacon 145.810 MHz (unmodulated carrier)
Operational, mode B, currently in 'sleep' mode. AO-10 is locked into a
70-cm uplink and a 2-meter downlink.
AO-10 continues to function well with the exception of the periodic deep
QSB, which can be partially eliminated by switching antenna polarization.
Strong signals have been heard even at apogee. Also note that AO-10's
apogee is approaching its most northern point (ArgP = 270). From there
the apogee will begin its slow migration southward.
Peter, VE7AHX, tells ANS of a "spectacular QSO" on AO-10 -- a
roundtable with KC2PJX, N6PAA, N2YAC and K6YK -- with the satellite
below the horizon at times. Signals were running S-9 or better, with
KC2CJX receiving the bird "as loud as his local repeater."
Waldis, VK1WJ, recently worked Bill, VU2MKP, with 5X5 signals each
way. Andy, GD0TEP, worked IK5QLO, SP6LB and DJ5MN recently (all
on CW). Hardy, DC8TS, reports 9M8TG and YB0ARA/9 have been
active on AO-10. SP6QKP has also been active, as has Raul, EA4EKH,
who reports working Jussi, OH5LK.
W4SM tells ANS that he has, using ranging software (and hardware)
developed by James Miller, G3RUH, recently made ranging
measurements on AO-10 and have fed these measurements into an
algorithm, which generates modified Keplerian elements from a "seed"
set of elements. The Keplerian elements generated appear to be
accurate within 16-25 km.
Note: This element set may have to be entered by hand or cut and
pasted line by line into a tracking program, rather than automatically
extracted. They are not in the complete AMSAT format, orbit#
(Epoch rev), Element set#, and Checksum are not included.
Satellite: AO-10
Catalog number: 14129
Epoch time: 98325.18347
Inclination: 26.7620 deg
RA of node: 57.5200 deg
Eccentricity: 0.59973
Arg of perigee: 267.4440 deg
Mean anomaly: 217.2710 deg
Mean motion: 2.05838411 rev/day
Decay rate: 0.00 rev/day^2
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, mode J.
The TEPR settings of AO-27 were recently reset by Chuck, KM4NZ. The
new settings now reflect the Earth's position during the northern
fall/winter season, and should provide more satellite 'on' time for AO-27
during each pass.
Scott, VE6ITV, tells ANS that "AO-27 is super with the new TEPR
settings." Chris, KH2PM, recently made his first QSO via AO-27. Mike,
KF4FDJ, regularly works the satellite with his Yaesu handheld. Al,
XE2YVW is planning to activate several new grid squares during an
upcoming trip, including DK79, DL81 and DK89.
[ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, for AO-27 information]
JAS-1b FO-20
Uplink 145.900 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB
Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status reports]
JAS-2 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 the FO-29 Command Team has released
the following announcement concerning FO-29 status:
The present JA mode of operation will continue to investigate the
frequency of bit errors in the on-board-computer. Reports from Amateurs
on the value of channel 2A are appreciated. The position of 2A is the
fifth item after 'HI HI' in CW telemetry. The normal value is '00'. Reports
should be sent to lab@jarl.or.jp.
FO-29 is still in 'full sun illumination'; this should end in December.
The on-board-computer (OBC) did accept commands from ground
control before full illumination began. The FO-29 Command Team says
digital (JD) mode operation may be available in December. Digi-talker
operation is also being planned.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-333.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 333.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 29, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-333.07
KITSAT KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Operational.
Richard, G3RWL, reports recent trouble uploading to KO-23. ANS also
received similar reports from WA4SCA, G8UFN and N1QQV. Alan,
WA4SCA, also reported that "KO-23 seems to be back to normal, but
the downlink is up about 6 kHz from where it has been."
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and G3RWL, WA4SCA,
G8UFN and N1QQV for KO-23 reports]
KITSAT KO-25
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 436.50 MHz FM
Operational.
Jim, AA7KC tells ANS the satellite returned to normal operation on
November 24th. Alan, WA4SCA, also reports KO-25 is back in normal
operation.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for KO-25 status information]
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.
Clive, G3CWV, reports an uneventful month for OSCAR-11. Telemetry
has been nominal.
The mode-S beacon is on, transmitting an unmodulated carrier, however
telemetry indicates that it has partially failed -- delivering half power.
This beacon is a useful test source for those testing mode-S converters
prior to the launch of P3D. The 435.025 MHz beacon is normally off.
Two new WOD software packages have recently added to the Oscar 11
web site. The first package enables various WOD channels to be
compared with the solar eclipse status of the satellite. The second
package compares measured and calculated magnetic fields
encountered by Oscar 11. Both packages are of an advanced nature,
users will need experience using the other WOD packages on the web
site along with a spreadsheet program.
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]
PACSAT AO-16
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. Test periods will run each Tuesday from
0000 to 2359 UTC.
The telemetry is nominal.
Time is Sat Nov 28 12:17:08 1998 uptime is 1532/06:41:39
+X (RX) Temp -7.868 D RX Temp 0.603 D
Bat 1 Temp 5.444 D Bat 2 Temp 10.285 D
Baseplt Temp 6.049 D RC PSK BP Temp 0.603 D
RC PSK HPA Tmp 0.603 D +Y Array Temp 1.814 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp -0.607 D +Z Array Temp -7.263 D
RC PSK TX Out 0.472 W
Total Array C= 0.459 Bat Ch Cur=-0.006 Ifb= 0.029 I+10V= 0.322
TX:010B BCR:80 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:A5
General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at:
http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu
A graphic summary of the October WOD survey transmitted by
AO-16, including spin-rate, rotation, voltage, current and other
parameters -- can be found at:
http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/wod1998.zip
[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report]
LUSAT LO-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 semi-operational.
Miguel, EA1BCU, reports downlink signals show good modulation. The
satellite is transmitting an ASCII message containing the following text:
No BBS service. On Board Computer reload in progress.
Digipeater active. Thank you - Norberto - LU8DYF.
No telemetry report was received by ANS.
General information and telemetry samples can find at:
http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/lo19.htm
[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 received on 435.822 MHz at 1200 baud
PSK. No additional information is available at this time.
TMSAT-1 TO-31
Uplink 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 436.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
TMSAT-1 is now open for general access by Amateur Radio operators
worldwide. TMSAT commissioning has been completed and shows that
most of the spacecraft systems are operating correctly. Normal access
will allow operators to use the store and forward communications on the
spacecraft and also download the high-resolution multispectral images.
It is hoped Amateur Radio operators will take advantage of the high-
resolution multispectral images available from TO-31 and keep other
traffic to a minimum. Due to current limitations with on-board memory,
images will only be available on the satellite for a few days after they are
taken.
Testing will continue and access may be limited to command stations
only. If at any time the BBS is in a 'SHUT' mode as displayed in WiSP (or
any of the digital programs), do not attempt to access the satellite as it
may delay any command string that is underway.
[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
expected to be available for general amateur use in the future.
The satellite does not have a continuos beacon, but does transmit a
9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (for a continuous 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]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-333.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 3
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 333.08 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 29, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-333.08
THE FOLLOWING SATELLITES ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS
TIME:
RS-16
Attempts to command the mode A transponder 'on' have been
unsuccessful to date. At this time the RS-16 transponder is
non-operational. The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational.
No additional information is available at this time.
DOVE DO-17
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK
Beacon 2401.220 MHz
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
Non-operational.
WO-18 is reported to be in MBL mode after a software crash.
No additional information is available at this time.
--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
AMSAT-NA Vice President/Public Affairs
Amateur callsign: NN0DJ
Grid Square EN28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
e-mail: nn0dj@amsat.org
----
Via the ans mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe ans" to Majordomo@amsat.org