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[jamsat-news:1005] ANS 010
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 010
ANS is a free weekly news and information service of AMSAT North
America, 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.
Currently, AMSAT-NA provides the following free mailing lists:
* AMSAT News Service (ANS)
* General satellite discussion (AMSAT-BB)
* Orbit data (KEPS)
* Manned space missions (SAREX)
* District of Columbia area (AMSAT-DC)
* New England (AMSAT-NE)
To subscribe, or for more list information, visit the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/listserv/menu.html
Information on AMSAT-NA is available at the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org (or)
AMSAT-NA
850 Sligo Avenue, Suite 600
Silver Spring, Maryland
20910-4703
(301) 608-3410
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-010.01
AMSAT-UK COLLOQUIUM
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 010.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 10, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-010.01
The 14th annual AMSAT-UK Colloquium, also known as SpaceComm
'99, will be held at the University of Surrey in Guildford, Surrey, United
Kingdom, starting Friday, July 23rd and ending Sunday, July 25, 1999.
AMSAT-UK invites authors to submit papers about amateur radio space
(and associated) activities, not only for the Colloquium, but also for the
Proceedings document published following the event. Colloquium
organizers normally prefer authors to present papers in-person, but
non-represented papers will also be welcomed.
AMSAT-UK committee members are also considering adding a
Colloquium session specifically for newcomers to amateur satellite
operating. Stay tuned to ANS for further information on this session as it
becomes available.
Offers of Papers should be submitted as soon as possible. The final date
for full documents is mid-June, with a second and final call for papers to
be issued in March, about the same time as Colloquium booking
information becomes available from AMSAT-UK.
Colloquium/SpaceComm 99 submissions should be sent to Richard
Limebear, G3RWL, via any of the following routes:
Internet e-mail: g3rwl@amsat.org
Packet radio: G3RWL @ GB7HSN.#32.GBR.EU
Digital satellite: AO-16/UO-22/KO-25
Terrestrial mail: RW Limebear, G3RWL
60 Willow Road
Enfield EN1 3NQ
United Kingdom
[ANS thanks Richard Limebear, G3RWL, Colloquium Program organizer,
and SpaceNews for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-010.02
ISS HAM GEAR INCHES CLOSER TO SPACE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 010.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 10, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-010.02
The ARRL is reporting the first set of Amateur Radio gear to be used on
the International Space Station has moved a bit closer to its rocket ride
into space. The Phase-1 ham gear is on a tight proveout and delivery
schedule and is due at Kennedy Space Center in Florida by January
20th.
US astronaut William Shepherd will command the first ISS crew.
Shepherd is now studying for his ham ticket. Accompanying him will be
Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR. All
three have previous space flight experience. The crew has been training
for their launch on a Soyuz vehicle and a planned five-month mission on
ISS.
The interim ISS ham gear package will consist of Ericsson 2-meter and
70-cm hand-held transceivers set up for FM voice and packet operation,
plus power supplies, cables, and accessories. Ericsson donated the
commercial transceivers for the project, while the Italian ARISS team is
providing the external antennas.
At this point, the equipment and accessories have been checked out in
an end-to-end integration. Additionally, the transceivers have undergone
EMI testing to ensure that they will not cause problems for other ISS
onboard equipment. The radios will now be programmed and labeled in
accordance with NASA procedures and protocols for space flight.
AMSAT members who work for NASA at the Goddard Space Flight
Center have been doing the EMI testing.
Preparing to carry Amateur Radio gear for use aboard the ISS involves
careful attention to detail all along the way. Crew safety is the primary
consideration. "Because of the high cost of space travel, it's critical that
hardware be thoroughly tested and documented," said AMSAT's Will
Marchant, KC6ROL. "Flight crews frustrated by hardware are also less
likely to want to participate in Amateur Radio operations."
Getting Amateur Radio a permanent berth in space aboard ISS has
involved efforts in several countries. The primary players include the
United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy,
Canada, and Japan. "The ARISS team is truly an international,
democratic, organization and is cooperating to provide human
spaceflight Amateur Radio operations to the entire ham community
well into the next decade," said Marchant.
Amateur Radio has been manifested aboard the ISS as necessary crew
equipment. The cost of providing just the interim Phase-1 amateur
station for use aboard ISS is expected to exceed $60,000 US. The
total cost of putting Amateur Radio aboard the ISS is expected to
approach $700,000 US, with funds coming from AMSAT, the ARRL and
NASA.
Still unclear at this point are the actual frequencies and the call signs
the crew will use aboard the ISS. The ultimate ISS ham radio
complement -Phase-3-- will include equipment to operate from HF
through the microwave bands, with SSB, CW, FM, packet, ATV,
compressed ATV, and SSTV capabilities. The German ARISS team will
supplement that station with a digitalker and full duplex repeater.
Once aboard the ISS, Amateur Radio will serve as an educational tool
through worldwide school contacts and as an outreach to the general
public.
[ANS thanks the ARRL and AMSAT's Will Marchant, KC6ROL, for this
information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-010.03
SUNSAT LAUNCH IMMINENT
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 010.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 10, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-010.03
South Africa will launch its first satellite, SunSat, January 14th from
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The satellite will carry an
Amateur Radio package in addition to a high-resolution imager, a
precision attitude control system, and several school experiments in
addition to other payloads.
SunSat was built by students at the University of Stellenbosch, and its
name is an acronym for Stellenbosch UNniversity Satellite.
Professor Garth Milne, ZR1AFH, heads the SunSat team, which has
been in the United States for several weeks preparing the satellite for
launch aboard a Delta II rocket. SunSat will piggyback on the Advanced
Research and Global Observation Satellite (ARGOS) built by Boeing.
ARGOS carries nine high-tech experiments that Boeing says "will
demonstrate next-generation satellite technology."
SunSat will have digital store-and-forward capability on VHF and UHF.
Telemetry beacons will be on 436.250 and 436.300 MHz. SunSat also
will feature voice store-and-forward capability (a parrot repeater) that will
be used mainly for school demonstrations. The satellite will carry two
VHF and two UHF transmit and receive systems to maximize flexibility.
The basic amateur radio payload will be centered around a 2-meter
parrot repeater operating 145.825 MHz using NBFM voice with 3 Hz
peak deviation. Also, 1200 baud AFSK and 9600 baud AFSK
store-and-forward transponders will allow digital capacity.
The launch will be carried live on several shortwave stations. The
shortwave broadcasts will air January 14th from 10:00 to 11:30 UTC.
Scheduled frequencies include: 9.525 MHz, 17.870 MHz and 21.530
MHz. The transmissions will carry background interviews and live
coverage from the launch site. Shortwave reception reports of the
broadcast are welcome. QSL to:
SARL
P.O. Box 1942
Hillcrest 3650
South Africa
For more information on SunSat, visit the following URL:
http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za
[ANS thanks the ARRL and Eric Rosenberg, ZS6SRL, for this
information and passes on wishes of success from all AMSAT
members to the SunSat team]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-010.04
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 010.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 10, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-010.04
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** Ken, N1WED, tells ANS that if the Goddard Space Flight Center
forecast is correct, RS-18/Sputnik 41 should have re-entered and burned
up in the atmosphere on January 7, 1999.
** The Associated Press and CNN have both reported that Russia will
use private funding to keep the Mir space station going for three more
years -- instead of just until mid-1999. Yuri Semionov, head of Energia
Aeronautics, which operates Mir, said investors were now ready to put
up money to prolong the life of the aging outpost. Semyonov did not
identify the investors or say how much funding they would provide.
Details are available at the following URL:
http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9812/23/mir.rescue/ --AMSAT-BB
** Bob, W7LRD, tells ANS that with recent interest in mode A operation
he has received several inquires regarding a simple 10-meter antenna
he described in the May/June 1997 AMSAT Journal. The antenna, a one
wavelength loop hanging from a single support, uses 1/2 inch PVC pipe
as a main component. Bob reports the loop is always as good as and
usually better than a turnstile, needs one support, and might cost $10
to build less coax. More information is available at w7lrd@juno.com.
--Bob, W7LRD
** Solar observers report a marked increase in sunspots during the past
few weeks. Sky and Telescope reports that this is the most sun spot
activity seen recently. --S and T
** The VHF/UHF Spring Sprints --traditionally held during April and
May-- have been dropped from the ARRL contest schedule. ARRL
Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, cites a lack of
participation for the change. "Participation in the VHF/UHF Spring Sprints
has never reached the level of a healthy national event," he said. "In
1998 only 200 individuals submitted logs spread across the seven
frequency bands covered by the Sprints." Henderson said budgetary
constraints were another factor. --ARRL Letter
** Japan's first Mars-bound spacecraft, Nozomi (meaning 'hope') was
hurled spaceward last July and has made a awing around the Moon and
Earth to pick up the needed speed to reach Mars in October of this year.
Once in Mars orbit Nozomi will study the Martian atmosphere and take
images of the moons Phobos and Deimos. --Sky and Telescope
** The European Space Agency reports this year will see ESA support of
the International Space Station, numerous launches by Ariane-4 and
Ariane-5 launch vehicles and the completion of several spacecraft to be
launched in 2000 and beyond. --ESA
** The Mars Polar Lander --due to become the first spacecraft to set
down near the edge of Mars' southern polar cap-- was successfully
launched recently from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 17B. The
spacecraft is equipped with a robotic arm to dig beneath the
layered terrain of the Martian polar region. --NASA, AMSAT-BB
** ANS FYI: The satellite tracking screen shown on NASA Select TV is
called DEMOS, 'Distributed Earth Model and Orbiter System'. It runs on
a Sun workstation and is driven by real time telemetry data.
--Dan, N8FGV
** The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft was
commanded to fire its main engine recently to prepare it for another try at
a close up study of an asteroid 14 months from now. NEAR fell silent
soon after its rocket was to fire last December 20th -- the engine
failed to slow down NEAR's approach speed and the spacecraft coasted
past its main objective, asteroid 433 Eros.
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-010.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 010.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 10, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-010.05
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.
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
Semi-operational due to SSTV transmissions.
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.
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]
Radio Sport 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.
Radio Sport 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 KA with a 10-meter downlink and a 15-meter
and 2-meter uplink.
Tim, KA8DDZ, reports he made a few contacts on RS-13 with his new
satellite station.
The RS-12/13 satellite has seen many recent changes in operational
status. Modes K, T, KT and now mode KA operation have all been
reported by a number of stations.
No official word from the Russian satellite controllers has been received.
ANS recommends monitoring each satellite carefully to determine the
transponder in operation and which mode it is operating in.
RS-12/13 command is now in the hands of Alex Papkov, in
Kaluga City, Russia.
Radio Sport 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.
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
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. 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 has passed its most northern point. This gives the satellite track
(on a rectangular Mercator map projection) a distinctly symmetrical
pattern. The apogee has now begun a slow migration southward.
Look for Charlie, VR2XMT, to be active on AO-10.
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), and Element set# are not included.
Satellite: AO-10
Catalog number: 14129
Epoch time: 99006.12821000
Element set: 003
Inclination: 27.343 deg
RA of node: 49.882 deg
Eccentricity: 0.60113
Arg of perigee: 279.883 deg
Mean anomaly: 68.131 deg
Mean motion: 2.05837888 rev/day
Decay rate: 0.0 rev/day^2
Epoch rev: 11705
Checksum: 240
NASA 2-line format:
1 14129U 00 0 0 99006.12821000 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0031
2 14129 027.3430 049.8820 6011300 279.8830 068.1310 02.05837888117059
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.
[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.
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.
The FO-29 Command Team says digital (JD) mode operation may be
available soon. Digi-talker operation is also being planned.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-010.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 010.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 10, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-010.06
KITSAT KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Operational.
AA7KC reports KO-23 is operational, returning to full service on January
4th. KyungHee Kim, on behalf of the KITSAT command team, reported
to ANS that the downlink transmitter on KO-23 was tripped recently. He
reports the problem has happened several times for unknown reasons.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for KO-23 status information]
KITSAT KO-25
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 436.50 MHz FM
Operational.
[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
Semi-operational.
Chris, G7UPN, tells ANS the OBC186 flight software on UO-22 crashed
recently after operating for well over 500 days. The software reload
should be completed at his time.
More information on the satellite is available at the following URL:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/
[Chris Jackson, G7UPN /ZL2TPO, is the Operations Manager of
UO-22]
OSCAR-11
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK
Beacon 2401.500 MHz
Operational.
Telemetry has been nominal.
The mode-S beacon is ON, transmitting an unmodulated carrier, but
telemetry indicates that it has partially failed, and delivering half
power. This beacon is a useful source for those testing mode-S
converters, prior to the launch of P3-D. The 435.025 MHz beacon is
normally off.
More information about OSCAR 11 can be found at the following URL:
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.
Telemetry is nominal.
Time is Sun Jan 10 11:16:40 1999 uptime is 1575/05:40:31
+X (RX) Temp -6.053 D RX Temp 2.419 D
Bat 1 Temp 9.680 D Bat 2 Temp 6.654 D
Baseplt Temp 6.654 D RC PSK BP Temp 1.209 D
RC PSK HPA Tmp 2.419 D +Y Array Temp 3.629 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp 1.209 D +Z Array Temp -5.448D
RC PSK TX Out 0.599 W
Total Array C= 0.547 Bat Ch Cur= 0.017 Ifb=-0.013 I+10V= 0.372
TX:010C BCR:7F PWRC:59F BT: A WC:25 EDAC:3A
General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at:
http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu
Telemetry WOD graphics corresponding to Dec-30 can be found at:
http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/wod.htm
A complete collection of WOD graphics corresponding to the
year of 1998 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.
No BBS service. OBC (on board computer) reload in progress. The
Digipeater is active.
Time is Sun Jan 10 11:20:47 1999 uptime is 162/21:43:11
RC PSK TX Out 0.674 W +Z Array Temp -3.235 D
RC PSK BP Temp 3.496 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 5.179 D
+Y Array Temp 2.374 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 2.374 D
Total Array C= 0.193 Bat Ch Cur= 0.055 Ifb= 0.018 I+10V= 0.139
TX:017 BCR:89 PWRC:62D BT:3C WC: 0
General information and telemetry samples can be found 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
Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB
Semi-operational.
Telemetry is reported as being received on 435.822 MHz at 1200 baud
PSK.
ANS has not received any recent updates concerning the status
of IO-26. 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. Normal access will allow operators to use the store and
forward communications on the spacecraft and also download the
high-resolution multispectral images.
Chris, G7UPN, tells ANS that during software loading (and other
command activities) ground control stations may close the satellite BBS
to general users. This ensures that command activity is not obstructed or
slowed by user traffic. This also allows ground control stations to
complete these activities much quicker.
[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.
ANS has not received any recent updates concerning the current status
of GO-32 and no additional information is available at this time.
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]
SedSat SO-33
Downlink 437.910 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions.
SedSat-1, signifying Students for the Exploration and Development of
Space Satellite number one, was successfully launched and placed in
orbit on Saturday, October 24, 1998.
SedSat is continuing to perform as it has since launch, transmitting
telemetry until the batteries are depleted and then going into safe mode
(for about ten hours) and then repeating the process. "The orbital
geometry is such that we have had as much as 120 hours of continuous
operation from the bird before the batteries die," said Dennis, KD4ETA.
Recovery efforts continue.
For more information on SedSat-1, including Version 1.2 of the SedSat
ground station software -- visit the satellite web site at the following URL:
http://www.seds.org/sedsat
[ANS thanks Dr. Mark Maier, KF4YGR, for this information]
PanSat PO-34
Downlink frequency not established.
The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions.
PanSat, developed by the Naval Postgraduate School, was launched
from the shuttle Discovery. PanSat spread-spectrum digital transponders
will be available to amateur radio operators in the near future along with
software to utilize this technology. The PO-34 command station is
located in Monterey, California.
Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, PANSAT Project Manager recommends
'The ARRL Spread Spectrum Sourcebook' as a good place to start in
understanding the spread-spectrum scheme.
The PANSAT Team does not expect the satellite to be available to the
Amateur Radio community for another few months.
For more information, visit the official PANSAT web site at:
http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/pansat/
[ANS thanks Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-010.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 3
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 010.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 10, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-010.07
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.
RS-18/Sputnik 41
Russian cosmonauts successfully launched RS-18/Sputnik 41 on
November 10, 1998, during a spacewalk from the Mir space station.
The satellite stopped transmitting early on December 11, 1998, meeting
the 30-day projected lifetime. If the Goddard Space Flight Center
forecast is correct, RS-18/Sputnik 41 should have re-entered and burned
up in the atmosphere on January 7, 1999.
A computer .wav file of the actual received signal can also be found at:
http://www.ik1sld.org/sputnik41.htm
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
DOVE DO-17
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK
Beacon 2401.220 MHz
Non-operational.
DOVE stopped transmitting in March 1998. The 145.825 MHz and
2401.220 MHz downlinks are off the air and the satellite has not
responded to ground station control. Command stations will again
attempt contact in the near future.
QSL cards for receiving DOVE (when the satellite is operating) may
be obtained from:
Dianne White, N0IZO
45777 Rampart Road
Parker, Colorado 80138-4316
USA
Dianne has received a few cards recently for what apparently is UO-11.
Dianne handles cards for DOVE (DO-17) only.
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
/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
----
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