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[jamsat-news:1057] * SpaceNews 29-Mar-99 *
SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0329
* SpaceNews 29-Mar-99 *
BID: $SPC0329
=========
SpaceNews
=========
MONDAY MARCH 29, 1999
* NEW MINI-SPUTNIK READY FOR LAUNCH *
=====================================
Miles Mann, WF1F, reports that a new mini-Sputnik satellite called RS-19
is on its way to Mir with the next Progress launch currently scheduled
for April 2, 1999. No word as to the date the satellite will be hand
launched from Mir is known at this time.
The latest mini-Sputnik will transmit stored voice messages in many
different languages on a frequency of 145.815 MHz (+/- Doppler)
with 200 milliwatts of power. Up to ten messages will be transmitted
by the tiny, battery powered satellite. Each message will be 7 seconds
long and include a 7 second pause. There is the ability to change the
message every 24 hours.
More information on this project is available on AMSAT-France's Web
page at:
http://www.ccr.jussieu.fr/physio/f6bvp/
[Info via Miles Mann, WF1F]
* FUJI-OSCAR-29 NEWS *
======================
FUJI-OSCAR-29's Digitalker has become quite popular with satellite
enthuiasts, especially those with modest receiving equipment. During
periods of Digitalker operation, FO-29 can be easily heard with a
handheld UHF-FM receiver tuned to 435.910 MHz (+/- Doppler) and whip
antenna. Due to the popularity of this recent operation, the JARL
has decided to extend the period of FO-29 Digitalker operation
through Monday March 29th.
The latest FO-29 operating schedule is as follows:
Mar 29 (Mon) - Apr 5 (Mon) Mode JA
Apr 5 (Mon) - Apr 12 (Tue) Mode JD (1200 baud mode)
Apr 12 (Tue) - Apr 27 (Tue) Mode JA
Apr 27 (Tue) - May 6 (Thu) Digitalker
[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]
* CONNECTICUT OPERATION PLANNED *
=================================
Bob, WE1U, will be in Connecticut for business on April the 6th. He
will be stopping off at ARRL Headquarters in Newington in the morning
and will be trying to make satellite contacts.
Here is his tentative schedule:
15:25 to 15:37 UTC : RS-13
16:25 to 16:38 UTC : AO-27
16:38 to 16:48 UTC : FO-29 (possibly, not sure yet)
QSL info is to W1AW, 225 Main St. Newington, CT 06111-1494. Please
enclose an SASE if you want a card in return.
Bob will concentrate on AO-27 primarily, with RS-13 and FO-29 on a
secondary basis. He will be attempting to give as many stations as
possible a QSO with W1AW so his exchange will be your call and a signal
report (59 CT)i. Bob asks that bigger stations wait until he has
worked as many QRP stations as possible (these would be the folks with
an HT and an Arrow antenna). Bob also requests that stations do not
ask for his grid location as this will only slow things down. He
also apologizes in advance if he considered a "satellite hog" for
this scheduled event, ans asks that people who wish to contact him
e-mail him in advance so he has an idea of how many stations will be
trying to contact him during his stay in Connecticut.
Bob may be reached at: we1u1@banet.net
[Info via Bob WE1U, AMSAT Area Coordinator, ARRL Vermont Section Manager]
* LINUX KCT DRIVER AVAILABLE *
==============================
Jean-Paul Roubelat, F6FBB, announced that he recently uploaded the last
version of the KCT/T driver for Linux 2.0.36. The KCT/T is a PC-bus,
8 bit ISA board used to drive two antenna rotors for satellite tracking
purposes as well as two transceivers for Doppler tracking. The driver
is available at:
ftp://ftp.f6fbb.org/pub/f6fbb/distrib/kct
This version now includes a static or shared library to interface the
driver.
[Info via John Melton, N6LYT/G0ORX]
* MIR ORBITAL MILESTONE *
=========================
Ken, N1WED reports that pending course correction maneuvers, MIR in
its current orbit plane, will pass a milestone of seventy-five thousand
(75,000) orbits on or about 1731 UTC April 05, 1999. MIR's Core was
launched February 19, 1986 at 2128:23 UTC. The present total weight
of the seven modules that make up MIR at the present time is 248,600
pounds or 124.8 Tons (US).
Due the probable deorbit, it will not make the one hundred thousandth
(100,000) orbit which would occur around August 12, 2003.
As a comparison, Vanguard 1, that was launched March 17, 1958, as of a
few weeks ago has completed just over 36,200 orbits. It is the oldest
(unclassified) space object in Earth orbit.
[Info via Ken, N1WED]
* OSCAR-22 CRASH *
==================
Last week the OBC186 flight software on UoSAT-5 (OSCAR-22) crashed.
A reload commenced shortly after the crash. The satellite should now
be back in operation. Users are cautioned to refrain from transmitting
to UO-22 while flight software uploads by command stations are taking
place.
KITSAT-OSCAR-23 remains out of service due to what appears to be a
failure in on the the spaceraft's storage batteries. The satellite
has recently been heard transmitting data at 1200 baud using BPSK
modulation as opposed to its regular 9600 baud FSK format.
* FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED *
===========================
Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor
(John, KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below:
WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
PACKET : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net
SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, KITSAT-OSCAR-25
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/EX
--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- John A. Magliacane, KD2BD -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Internet : kd2bd@amsat.org | Voice : +1.732.224.2948
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