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[jamsat-news:1010] ANS 017
AMSAT News Service
ANS 017
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 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
Voice (301) 589-6062
FAX (301) 608-3410
Please note: ANS editor Dan James, NN0DJ, is in Montana attending
the funeral of his mother-in-law. Dan would like to take this
opportunity to
express a sincere thank you to all who sent well wishes, thoughts
and prayers during this difficult time for his family. In addition, a
very big
thank you to AMSAT-NA Executive VP Robin Haighton, who is filling in
as ANS Editor this week.
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-017.01
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 017.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 17,1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-017.01
Saturday January 16 - LAUNCH OF AIR FORCE DELTA 2 ROCKET POSTPONED UNTIL
TUESDAY.
An Air Force Delta 2 rocket loaded with a trio of research satellites
will remain
on earth until at least tuesday following today's scrubbed launch
attempt at
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Following a weather briefing today,
officials
made the decision to reschedule the mission for Tuesday during a window
of 5:39:52
to 5:48 am. EST (1039:52-1048 UTC). The postponement to tuesday was
based on the need
for crew rest and the unlikely improvement in wind conditions over the
next day or two,
officials said.
Today's attempt was halted because of three problems. As was the case
Friday,
upper level winds were out of limits. Also, the Range was red because of
predictions that indicated winds could blow debris from a launch
accident
outside the safety zone, and a problem with a command destruct
transmitter
at a downrange tracking station.
The two stage Boeing rocket is carrying the Air Force's Advanced
Research and Global
Observation Satellite as its primary payload. Two smaller spacecraft,
Denmark's Orsted
and South Africa's SUNSAT, are also hitching a ride into low Earth orbit
on Delta 226.
[ANS thanks Cliff K7RR and Space on line for this information.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-17.02
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 017.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 17, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-017.02
The Miami Tropical Hamboree is quickly approaching (February 6-7,1999)
and
we're looking for volunteers to help man the AMSAT booth at the
Hamboree.
The Hamfest will be held at the Fair Expo Center, SW 112th Avenue &
Coral
Way (sw 24th Street). Miami is a major hamfest with strong attendance
from
the Caribbean, Central America, and South America as well as the
Southeast
US. We need folks to volunteer for a 'tour of duty' during a portion of
the
Hamboree.
In addition to the exhibit, the hamfest committee has scheduled an AMSAT
Forum for the Saturday Afternoon (1500-1600. Check the Hamfest program
guide
for particulars.
If you are interested in helping out (even if for only an hour), please
send
Barry Baines an E-Mail (wd4asw@amsat.org) and let him know:
1) What hours are you willing to volunteer (multiples of 1 hour) on
Saturday
(0900-1700) and/or Sunday (0900-1500)
2) Your name and callsign and E-Mail address.
3) Any Special Skills in Software, Hardware etc.
Miami is a unique opportunity to represent AMSAT to an International
audience.
If at all possible please consider giving us a hand during this event.
[ANS Thanks Barry Baines for this information.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-017.03
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 017.3 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 17, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-017.03
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 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 ongoing 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 to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB
Uplink 145.960 to 146.000 MHZ CW/SSB
Downlink 29.460 to 29.500 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 145.960 to 146.000 MHZ CW/SSB
Beacon 29.504
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.
The RS-12/13 satellite has seen many recent changes in operational
status.
Modes K, T, KT and now 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 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 periodic deep QSB, which can
be partially eliminated by switching antenna polarization.
Strong signals have been hears 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.
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 to accurate within 16 - 25 km.
Satellite: AO-10
Catalog number 14129
Epoch time 99011.95911000
Element set 4
Inclination 27.1123 deg
RA of node 48.7076 deg
Eccentricity 0.6010746
Arg of Perigee 281.7573 deg
Mean Anomaly 69.6767 deg
Mean Motion 2.05864167 rev/day
Decay Rate 0.00000e+00 rev/day^2
Epoch rev 11717
checksum 272
AO-10
1 14129U 83058B 99011.95911000 .00000000 00000-0 55544-5 0 41
2 14129 27.1123 48.7076 6010746 281.7573 69.6767 2.05864167117171
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 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 146.000 CW/LSB
Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 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 146.000 CW/LSB
Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 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 while investigating
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
5th 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, and John G7HIA for this report]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-017.04
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 017.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 17, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-017.04
KITSAT KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Operational
Jim, 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 436.500 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
Operational
Chris, G7UPN, Tells ANS that the OBC186 flight software on UO-22 crashed
recently after operating for well over 500 days. The software re-load
has now
been completed.
More Information on the satellite is available at the following URL:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT
[Chris Jackson, G7UPH / 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
Phase 3D. 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 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.96 MHz FM 1200 bps Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB,1200 bps RC-BPSK 1200 Baud PSK
Beacon 2401.1428
Operational
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.
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/wod1.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 145.840 145.860 145.880 145.900 FM 1200 bps Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB 1200bps RC-BPSK
Currently semi-operational
No BBS service, OBC (on board computer) reload in progress.
The Digipeater is active.
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 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 down load 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 the 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 that 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 nor 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 continuous beacon, but does transmit a
9600 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 into orbit on 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 10 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 website at the following URL:
http://www.seds.org/sedsat
[ANS thanks Dr. Mark Maier, KF4YGR, for this information]
PANSAT PO-34
Downlink Frequency not yet established.
The satellite is not yet currently available for uplink Transmissions.
PANSAT, developed by the Naval Postgraduate School, was launched from
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-017.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 3
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 017.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 17, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-017.05
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 space walk 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 QSLs 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
Dianne has received a few cards recently for what apparently is UO-11.
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 Call Sign: NN0DJ
Grid Square EN28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
e-mail: nn0dj@amsat.org
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