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[jamsat-news:1025] ANS 038
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 038
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.
AMSAT-NA is pleased to announce that recent and future developments
in amateur radio satellites will be presented in San Diego, California
--October 8th through 11th-- at the 17th Space Symposium and
AMSAT-NA annual meeting.
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
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
This ANS bulletin set is dedicated to the memory of former
ANS Editor -- BJ Arts, WT0N.
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-038.01
KING HUSSEIN, JY1, A SILENT KEY
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 038.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 07, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-038.01
His Majesty Hussein bin Talal, King of Jordan, known to amateurs the
world over as JY1, has died. CNN is reporting the Middle Eastern leader
lost a long battle to cancer at the age of 63.
King Hussein died in his homeland after returning from the Mayo Clinic in
Minnesota. He had spent six months in the United States undergoing
treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the clinic, including a bone
marrow transplant. The transplant failed, and the King returned home to
die.
The AMSAT bulletin board was full of comments from amateurs who
warmly remembered King Hussein, including a wonderful story from
past AMSAT-NA president Tom Clark, W3IWI.
Tom remembered in 1980 when "we had lost the Phase-3A spacecraft
and it was a black day for us. We were fighting to keep the amateur
satellite program alive." Then President Clark received a phone call late
one night from Blackie Blackburn, JY9BB, who served as the
communications and technology advisor to the King. According to
W3IWI, "Blackie told me that the King was concerned about amateur
radio's loss and asked a lot of questions about our recovery plans and
needs. Blackie ended the call with a comment that he would be in touch
soon."
The next week newspapers carried a small news note that King Hussein
was in the United States and Tom reported a few days later the phone
rang again. Blackie was calling from Los Angeles. W3IWI was asked to
hold -- and moments later -- a wondrous voice came on the line saying
"Tom, it is a pleasure to talk to you at last. This is JY1. I wanted to tell
you how proud we are about AMSAT's efforts and how sad we are about
the loss of Phase-3A. I would like to offer some help, so I'm sending you
a contribution."
Tom told ANS he and JY1 exchanged a few minutes more of chit-chat,
and then Blackie came back on the line and said "Tom, the King's
contribution to AMSAT is a check for $10,000. I have it in my hand.
Where should I send it?"
According to W3IWI, not only did JY1's generous contribution provide
needed financial support, "it was very important in helping the AMSAT
folks to rebuild their morale."
AMSAT OSCAR 10 was the result of JY1's generous outreach.
Tom's story ended with a personal note to King Hussein: "Sir, speaking
for AMSAT, it's been a pleasure to know you as a friend and strong
supporter. You will be missed here on earth and we wish you well in your
trip to the cosmos." -- VY 73 JY1 de W3IWI. SK
[ANS thanks CNN and Dr. Thomas Clark, W3IWI, for this information.
AMSAT-NA sends our sympathy and condolences to the family of King
Hussein and to the people of Jordan]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-038.02
17TH SPACE SYMPOSIUM AND AMSAT-NA ANNUAL MEETING
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 038.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 07, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-038.02
AMSAT News Service is pleased to announce that recent and future
developments in amateur radio satellites will be presented in San Diego,
California --October 8th through 11th-during the 17th AMSAT-NA
Space Symposium and annual meeting.
Duane Naugle, KO6BT, is spearheading the event. Duane tells ANS the
location for the Symposium is the beautiful Hanalei Hotel in the heart of
San Diego's Mission Valley, a short distance from several of San Diego's
many attractions.
At this point the tentative agenda includes the Space Symposium on
Friday and Saturday, a satellite session for beginners Friday evening and
the annual banquet on Saturday evening. An IARU Satellite meeting will
be held Sunday morning, followed by the AMSAT-NA board meeting
Sunday afternoon and Monday.
The call for Symposium papers will be made later this month and
registration forms will be available in July.
For more information on San Diego's facilities and attractions, contact
the San Diego Convention and Visitor's Bureau toll-free at
(888) 969-9310.
Hotel reservations for the Hanalei Hotel in San Diego can be made by
calling (800) 882-0858. Be sure to mention AMSAT to receive the
discounted group rate.
Symposium chair, Duane Naugle, KO6BT, and can be reached at:
ko6bt@amsat.org
Stay tuned to ANS for further details on the 17th AMSAT-NA
Space Symposium and annual meeting.
[ANS thanks Duane Naugle, KO6BT, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-038.03
ARISS MEETINGS SUCCESSFUL
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 038.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 07, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-038.03
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS-US Delegation member, tells ANS that a
series of extremely successful International Space Station (ISS) Amateur
Radio accommodation meetings were held at the NASA Johnson Space
Center in Houston recently.
Sponsored by NASA and by Energia (the Russian space company that is
building portions of the ISS), the primary objective of the meeting was to
finalize the design development of 'initial station' amateur radio hardware
for ISS -- and to develop a more effective understanding of the Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program within NASA
and Energia. In addition to representatives from NASA and Energia,
hardware development teams from the United States, Russia, Germany
and Italy were invited to participate in the meetings.
The initial station design, solidified during the July 1998 ARISS meeting
in Surrey, England, consists of the following:
* 2-meter and 70-cm handheld radios, a packet radio system and power
supplies, provided by the US team
* a Digitalker, provided by the German team
* antenna feed-through along with power and spacecraft
accommodations, provided by the Russian team
* the development of an antenna system, led by the Italian delegation
NASA will be providing a Space Shuttle launch to transport initial station
hardware to the ISS and has financially supported the flight qualification
of the hardware. Some of the testing required by NASA and Energia to
flight qualify this hardware includes the development of a safety analysis
package, hardware performance testing, ISS interface testing, along with
electromagnetic interference and toxic chemical off-gassing testing.
During the meeting, Sergei Samburov, RV3DR, the President of AMSAT
Russia in Moscow (and the Chief of the Cosmonaut Amateur Radio
Department at Energia), confirmed that 4 dual-use antenna feed-
throughs have been installed on the Russian Service Module. Sergei
also confirmed his strong desire to work with the listed ARISS
international partners to develop a single, coordinated amateur radio
aboard the ISS.
Key NASA officials stated that they, too, need a single, international focal
point to coordinate amateur radio development and operations on ISS if
amateur radio on the space station is to have a future. During the
meeting, NASA officials were extremely pleased with the high level of
flight hardware expertise and on-orbit operations knowledge that the
ARISS international partners are providing to NASA and Energia.
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT-NA's Vice President for Human
Spaceflight Programs, commented, "I was extremely impressed with the
tremendous teamwork, camaraderie and cooperation that the ARISS
international partners exhibited during these pivotal meetings with NASA
and Energia. Together we share a common vision to develop and
operate a multifaceted amateur radio station on ISS that will be a great
recreational outlet for the on-orbit crews, an exciting DXpedition station
for hams on the ground and an outstanding educational outreach tool for
school students."
[ANS congratulates the ARISS partners and thanks Frank Bauer,
KA3HDO, AMSAT-NA's Vice President for Human Spaceflight Programs
for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-038.04
OSCAR SKN SUCCESS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 038.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 07, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-038.04
Ray Soifer, W2RS, tells ANS that AMSAT-NA's 27th annual Straight Key
Night on OSCAR, held last January 1st -- was quite a success, "with lots
of fun had by all."
'Best Fist' winners (amateurs who received one or more nominations)
included G3RWL, KB1SF, K7RR, K9CIS, NM1K, N0IBT, OK2AQK and
W3JIM.
W2RS adds his thanks to all satellite operators who took part in SKN.
According to Ray -- plans are now underway for the next SKN event (the
28th annual), which will celebrate the arrival of the year 2000.
[ANS thanks Ray Soifer, W2RS, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-038.05
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 038.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 07, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-038.05
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** Russian officials scrapped the Mir space station's space mirror
experiment after the shiny metal object became stuck and failed to
properly unfurl. The Mir crew sent the mirror, attached to a cargo ship
filled with trash, into the earth's atmosphere --and, after mostly burning
up during re-entry-it ended harmlessly in the Pacific Ocean. The mirror
was supposed to work like an artificial moon reflecting a beam of sunlight
across the earth. --ABC News reports
** SunSat launch delayed. A launch scrub was called for Sunday's
launch attempt because of a range constraint with the predicted impact
point for the solid rocket motor nozzle covers. Another launch attempt
will be scheduled soon. The postponement is the eighth for this mission.
--Florida Today
** Support youth in Amateur Radio by having fun participating in the
1999 School Club Roundup -- February 8th to 12th. See the January
'99 QST (p. 92) for details --or-- see the rules located at
http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/99/scr.html. Some schools
are planning satellite operation and the Johnson Space Center ARC
(W5RRR) will be active during SCR. --Rosalie, WA1STO
** Bill, KA7YAO, tells ANS that he is building two egg beater antennas
for satellite use during the 350 mile 'Race to the Sky' sled dog race in
Montana. Bill will use the local club call (W7TCK) during the race,
to be held February 14th - 18th. Bill thanks K5OE for the antenna help.
Amateur radio provides 24-hour communications each year for the race
to ensure the mushers are tracked -- along with appropriate personnel
if an emergency takes place. More information on the 'Race to the Sky' is
available at the following URL: http://www.race2sky.com. --Bill, KA7YAO
** Could the American Radio Relay League enter the new millennium
with a new name? The ARRL Board of Directors has asked the League's
Executive Committee to develop a proposal to change the League's
name to one that more clearly reflects the focus and purpose of the
organization to hams and non-hams alike. The now-obscure 'relay' part
of the League's name often is the most troublesome to explain. The
ARRL Board feels the year 2000 would be a natural point for change.
--ARRL Letter
** Astronomers from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
have received the first astronomical images from the new telescope atop
Mauna Kea, Hawaii -- the 8.3-meter Subaru Telescope. The images
Included Jupiter, Saturn, the Orion Nebula, a galaxy cluster, and a
distant quasar. The 20-centimeter-thick piece of polished Corning Ultra
Low Expansion (ULE) glass is the largest monolithic optical-infrared
mirror in the world, surpassing the 8.2-meter mirrors of the European
Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope. --S&T News
** SpaceDev's Integrated Space Systems subsidiary has been awarded
a contract from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to study the feasibility
of and concepts for low-cost microspacecraft which could provide
scientific, probe-carrying, telecommunications and navigation services
for future NASA Mars missions. Integrated Space Systems is an
aerospace engineering company specializing in launch vehicle and
spacecraft design and analysis. --JSP-List
** Looking for a nice quadrifilar helix antenna design for weather satellite
reception? If so, check out the following web site that features a
considerable amount of theory, design and construction information
on the QHA antenna: http://www.personal.u-net.com/~pilotltd/qha.htm.
--WxSat Reflector
** Paul, W1GHZ, reports he has made some good progress on the
W1GHZ Microwave 'online' antenna book. Paul invites you to go to
http://www.qsl.net/n1bwt and click on the book icon for more information.
--Paul W1GHZ
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-038.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 038.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 07, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-038.06
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
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.
Rick, KB0VBZ, reports Mir SSTV signals over Aurora, Colorado. Other
reports were received from N3JLQ, W5HUQ, N2XZS and WB6FZH/KH6.
Allen, N2YAC, reports an interesting Mir sequence showing much of
North Dakota, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
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.
Kevin, AC5DK, tells ANS activity on RS-13 has been moderate. Kevin
recently worked his 48th state on RS-12/13 (N1NFG/Rhode Island).
Danny, KE4RAP, tells ANS he recently installed a horizontal loop for
mode A operation and is very pleased with the results. Danny used 22
gauge wire cut using the 1005/frequency formula, feeding it with
RG-59U. Total cost -- about $3.00 US. The results: the first ever
reception of RS-13 with signals at S-5 to S-7. Robert, G8ATE, a regular
on the Russian birds, reports very good reception --even down to near
the horizon-- with a 1 wavelength loop of thin wire fixed in his roof space.
Reception was as good if not slightly better than a wire dipole in the
same location. Noise pickup was also less with the loop.
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.
Bob, W7LRD, reports good signals from KF4FDJ and K5VAS. Bob says
29.380 MHz is being used as the meeting frequency by most RS-15
operators. Nick, W0CA, reports hearing KK2L in CW QSO with W3AA.
Mike, KF4FDJ, reports QSO's with VA3EJN, KC9GI, K5OE and
VE3NPC.
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.
W4SM reports AO-10 appears to be entering another sleep period due to
poor solar angle, telling ANS the beacon is quite weak and FMing. If the
past is any indication (and it may not be if AO-10 is attitudinally
unstable), this sleep period will last about 4-6 weeks before gradually
improving over another 4-6 weeks. W4SM also notes downlink signals
are currently too weak for ranging data.
NORAD appears to have re-acquired AO-10, although W4SM is a bit
skeptical of NORAD reported Keps (particularly mean motion figures).
Since NORAD's approach does not require an active transponder, they will
hopefully refine their calculations over the next few weeks.
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, rotated with digital mode and digi-talker. See schedule
below.
Digital Mode JD
Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM
Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK
Operational, rotated with analog mode and digi-talker. See schedule
below.
Scott, VE6ITV, reports FO-29 in analog mode.
The JARL has released the following FO-29 schedule:
Feb. 8 to Feb. 15 JD1200
Feb. 15 to Feb. 18 JA
Feb. 19 to Feb. 22 Digitalker
The JARL will announce the next FO-29 schedule on February 10, 1999.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-038.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 038.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 07, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-038.07
KITSAT KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Not operational. The downlink transmitter is off.
ANS has learned (from the KO-23 ground command team) that the
satellite downlink transmitter first tripped off on August 18, 1998. Since
that time, KO-23 has been tripped frequently. The transmitter was again
off the air on January 17th and (again) turned back on. However, the
command team noted the absence of KO-23's downlink on the very next
pass. Telemetry shows one of KO-23's battery cells to be very unstable.
The command team is analyzing the relationship between the battery life
cycle and the downlink transmitter problem. The team has announced
operation of KO-23 will be stopped until the team understands the
problem completely and has found a workable solution.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ,
for KO-23 status information]
KITSAT KO-25
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 436.50 MHz FM
Operational.
KO-25 is absorbing the additional traffic (due to the loss of KO-23) and is
performing very well.
[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.
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.
Clive, G3CWV, tells ANS that apart from some ground control activity
during the first week in January, it's been another uneventful month for
OSCAR-11.
The internal temperatures have fallen slightly, by about one degree C.
They are now 7.6C and 5.8C for battery and telemetry electronics
respectively. The current duration of solar eclipse times has continued to
provide OSCAR-11 with near optimum conditions, maintaining an
adequate power budget while not allowing the internal temperatures to
rise to excessive levels.
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 Fri Feb 05 21:39:43 1999 uptime is 1601/16:02:46
+10V Bus 10.400 V +X (RX) Temp -4.842 D
RX Temp 8.470 D +Z Array Temp -12.709 D
Bat 1 Temp 6.049 D Bat 2 Temp 6.654 D
Baseplt Temp 6.049 D RC PSK TX Out 0.779 W
RC PSK BP Temp -0.002 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 0.603 D
+Y Array Temp -21.785 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -0.607 D
Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.488 Ifb= 0.190 I+10V= 0.323
TX:010C BCR:1E PWRC:59F BT: A WC:25 EDAC:F7
General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at:
http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu
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.
Telemetry is as follows:
Time is Fri Feb 05 21:27:29 1999 uptime is 189/07:52:51
+10V Bus 10.719 V RC PSK TX Out 0.659 W
RC PSK BP Temp 1.252 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 0.131 D
+Y Array Temp -16.696 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 1.252 D
+Z Array Temp -11.648 D
Total Array C= 0.008 Bat Ch Cur=-0.296 Ifb= 0.136 I+10V= 0.166
TX:017 BCR:1E 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.
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.
G7UPN reports that recently TMSAT was observed as "no longer
transmitting telemetry on the downlink." Chris says the reason for this
was quickly apparent -- a software problem. G7UPN says "repair" is now
complete and the BBS is now open again for general use.
ProcMail V2.00G has been released by G7UPN. This software permits
the processing of image files from TO-31. ProcMail V2.00G is available
for downloading on KO-23 and KO-25. It also has been posted to the
AMSAT-NA FTP site at the following URL:
www.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/wisp
[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-038.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 3
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 038.08 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 07, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-038.08
THE FOLLOWING SATELLITES ARE IN ORBIT BUT 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.
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.
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
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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