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[jamsat-news:1157] ANS 276


AMSAT NEWS SERVICE	
ANS 276	

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 development
in Amateur Radio satellites will be presented in San Diego, California
--October 8-11, 1999-- at the 17th Space Symposium and
AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting. More information is available from
Symposium chair, Duane Naugle, KO6BT, at:
ko6bt@amsat.org    (or)  the AMSAT web site.

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 supports 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)
* AMSAT Educational Liaison mailing list (AMSAT-EDU)

To subscribe, or for more list information, visit the following URL:

http://www.amsat.org/amsat/listserv/menu.html

This edition of ANS is dedicated to the memory of Charles Federer Jr.,
and Harold Burns, W1KVX.

Federer, the founder of Sky & Telescope, was 90. Born in St. Louis,
Federer later lived in Connecticut and New York before becoming a staff
assistant and lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. In
1941, he and his wife, Helen, began publishing Sky & Telescope from a
small office at the Harvard College Observatory. He served as its
Editor-in-Chief until retiring in late 1974.

Burns was an internationally recognized authority on magnetic
compasses and applied electromagnetism. W1KVX passed away after a
brief hospitalization. He was 81. During World War II Burns helped to
develop aircraft radio navigation systems that evolved into the LORAN
system. Later, he designed and patented an electromagnetic compass
system -- the first to offer a digital readout and encoding of the compass
heading to permit interconnection with an autopilot, radar and course
recorder systems.

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.01
IARU ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MEETS IN NORWAY

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-276.01

The ARRL Letter recently contained a report about an IARU meeting in
Norway that will be of special interest to satellite operators. According to
the ARRL, the International Amateur Radio Union Administrative Council
has adopted an information paper for prospective owners and operators
of amateur satellites.

The Council said the document's purpose is "to reduce the possibility of
inappropriate use of the Amateur-Satellite Service." The action came as
the Council convened for the first time under the chairmanship of IARU
President Larry Price, W4RA.

The information paper --developed and adapted from material originally
prepared by AMSAT-NA-- cautions that the Amateur-Satellite Service is
not intended for broadcasting; that communication be in plain language,
and access remain open to all amateur licensees.

IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, said that while last April's Swatch
'Beatnik' satellite situation did not prompt the adoption of the information
paper, that type of proposed use would be an appropriate example.

Last April, Swatch Watch announced plans to use a mini-satellite
operating on 2-meters to transmit messages related to its campaign to
establish the 'Swatch Beat' as a new "global concept of time."

Amateurs protested the Swatch plans because of the commercial
connection, and the project was scrapped.

An IARU Satellite Forum is also scheduled to take place during the
upcoming AMSAT-NA Symposium. The agenda topics for the Forum
include:

* The Year in Review 
* Frequency Co-ordination Report
* What is an Amateur Satellite? 
* International Frequency Planning for ARISS
* Monitoring and Dealing with Intruders in the Amateur Satellite Bands

The session will end with an open forum discussion.

[ANS thanks the ARRL and the IARU for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.02
A ROOM WITH A VIEW

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-276.02

Astronauts on board the International Space Station will be able to look
out and see the Earth, other planets and the stars thanks to technology
recently developed by European industry for ESA, the European Space
Agency.

Engineers across Europe are currently hard at work developing a set of
windows for the Space Station that are capable of withstanding years of
exposure to radiation and particle bombardment in space.

In addition to giving astronauts a direct view of external areas of the
Space Station and facilitating scientific observation of celestial bodies
and the Earth, the windows will perform an important psychological
function -- allowing astronauts to look down on our home planet.

The windows area, called the Cupola because of its domed, hexagonal
shape, will also house the control stand for the Space Station robotic
arm.

The schedule for the 'room with a view' starts initially in August 2003,
when the Cupola will be mounted on the Unity connecting Node already
in orbit. It will later be moved to the forward port on Node 3 to provide a
better view.

The Cupola has six windows offering 360 degree vision plus a seventh
window on the top. Each window has a shutter to shade and protect the
fused silica glass when the Cupola is not in use.

[ANS thanks the European Space Agency for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.03
HAMS SOUGHT TO ASSIST RESEARCHERS

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-276.03

Wondering what to do with your satellite gear between passes of your
favorite bird? If you live in the central U.S. --from North Dakota to
Texas-- and can receive signals on 172 MHz, wildlife researchers need
your help.

For the second year, hams are helping to track the movements of
endangered burrowing owls as they migrate southward from Canada.
Scientists think that they fly all the way from Saskatchewan and Alberta
to southern Texas and northern Mexico, but accurate data is scarce and
difficult to obtain.

The owls are on the move again, heading south for the winter.

Biologists are asking for help from hams to track some newly tagged
juvenile birds. "Perhaps this fall will bring the first recorded sighting in
the U.S. of a live Canadian-banded burrowing owl, and perhaps a ham
will make it happen," said ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding
Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV.

Since the birds remain in or near underground burrows during the day,
monitors are most likely to copy the short-pulsed signals during hours of
darkness, when the birds are migrating and foraging.

K0OV tells ANS that all the equipment needed is a scanner or an
extended-range hand-held plus an outside antenna. Even better
is direction-finding gear for 172 MHz. The equipment found in the
average satellite hamshack would be ideal.

For more information, check the burrowing owl web page at:

http://members.aol.com/homingin/

The page contains the exact frequencies of all 48 tag transmitters plus
photos, information on the expected migration path, and suggestions for
simple monitoring and tracking gear.

[ANS thanks the ARRL and Direction Finding Coordinator
Joe Moell, K0OV, for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.04
SYMPOSIUM FIELD OPS BREAKFAST

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-276.04

With the 17th Space Symposium and AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting now
just days away, Barry Baines, WD4ASW, AMSAT-NA Vice President for
Field Operations, reminds Symposium attendees about the Field Ops
Breakfast to be held during the Symposium.

The breakfast is primarily aimed at currently designated Area
Coordinators, however, "any current AMSAT member who may be
interested in becoming an Area Coordinator is certainly welcome to
attend as well," said Baines.

According to WD4ASW, the Field Ops Breakfast will be held on Sunday,
October 10th. Two hours have been set aside for breakfast and
discussions. "The Field Ops Breakfast offers a great opportunity for Area
Coordinators to get together to share ideas and experiences, say hello
to old friends and greet new volunteers," said WD4ASW, adding, "we
have over 150 designated Coordinators. A number of Area Coordinators
have been very successful in representing AMSAT within their local
communities. We hope this gathering will let those in attendance know
what works and to celebrate successes."

[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA Vice President for Field Operations
Barry Baines, WD4ASW, for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.05
ANS IN BRIEF

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-276.05

ANS news in brief this week includes the following:

** ANS principle satellite investigator Mike, N1JEZ, recently had an
interesting experience. During a family vacation (and just after operating
portable through AO-27) Mike had a sedan pull up behind his car and a
gentleman wearing dark sunglasses approached. The man announced
that he was with Naval Intelligence (with credentials to prove it) and
wanted to know what Mike was doing. N1JEZ explained everything in
detail, but also had to produce every bit of identification he was carrying!
Mike finally asked if there was a problem and the man then pointed to a
fence near the location and said "that's the Bath, Maine Naval Air
Station, so I had to check you out." -ANS

** The European Space Agency X-ray Multi-Mirror spacecraft has
arrived at the European Space Center at Kourou where it will be
prepared for launch aboard an Ariane 5. With a working lifetime of
10 years, XMM will study X-ray sources throughout the Universe.
Ariane launchers will also transport to space two GeoSats on behalf
of GE American. An Ariane 4 will launch GE-4 before year-end, while
the second GE Americom will fly on an Ariane 5 sometime after 2001.
-SpaceDaily

** The ARRL has added a public page to search FCC license data.
You can find the search engine page at the following URL:
http://www.arrl.org/fcc/fcclook.php3. -ARRL

** The launch of the first commercial satellite from a floating platform
at sea will take place on October 10th if all goes as planned. The
200-foot High Sea Launch will lift the 7,600 pound DirecTV 1-R
broadcast satellite into a transfer orbit from the equatorial ocean
site. More information about the upcoming Sea Launch can be found at:
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/sealaunch-99g.html. 
-SpaceDaily

** KD4DLA has found an interesting NASA web site that has views of the
solar system from different locations -- like Earth or Mars. The page can
be found at: http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/. -James, KD4DLA

** NASA recently announced the likely reason the Mars Climate Orbiter
was lost. On September 23rd, the spacecraft apparently passed only
60 km from the Martian surface, rather than the planned close approach
of 140 to 150 km. A preliminary investigation revealed that a mismatch
of figures occurred because one team of engineers had used English
units of measure while another used metric. Two panels continue to
study the mission failure. The next mission for the red planet is the
Mars Polar Lander, which should arrive near Mars on December 3rd.
-Sky & Telescope

--ANS BULLETIN END---

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-276.06

RADIO SPORT   RS-12
Uplink		  21.210 to  21.250 MHz CW/SSB
Uplink          	145.910 to 145.950 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
Robot Downlink   29.454 MHz
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           	  29.458 MHz
Robot Uplink     145.840 MHz
Robot Downlink   29.504 MHz
Operational, in mode-KA with a 10-meter downlink
and a 15-meter and 2-meter uplink.

RS-13's Robot CW auto-transponder is active. For confirmation of an
RS-13 Robot contact, send your QSL card along with the Robot
QSL number to:

	Radio Sport Federation
	Box 88
	Moscow

Kevin, AC5DK, has information about RS-12/13 that contains a simple
explanation on how to operate on the satellite, including a forum for
operators to exchange information, pose questions or even set up
schedules via RS-12/13.

AC5DK's RS-12/13 Satellite Operators Page:

http://www.qsl.net/ac5dk/rs1213/rs1213.html

AC5DK's RS-12/13 Satellite Forum:

http://www.hotboards.com/powerforum/pwrforum.exe?who=rs1213

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)
SSB meeting frequency 29.380 MHz (unofficial)
Semi-operational, mode-A, using a 2-meter uplink and a
10-meter downlink.

Dave, WB6LLO, has operating information for both RS-15 and RS-13
on his personal web site. In addition to satellite data, antenna
information and AMSAT-NA Jewelry Contest information is also featured.
The WB6LLO web site URL is:

http://home.san.rr.com/doguimont/uploads

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)
Semi-operational, mode-B. AO-10 has been locked into a 70-cm uplink
and a 2-meter downlink for several years.

Masa, JN1GKZ, reports his web page shows the current AO-10
spin period and spin rate (by measuring the beacon with FFTDSP
software). The JN1GKZ web site can be found at the following URL:

http://www.din.or.jp/~m-arai/ao10/beacone.htm

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]

AMRAD   AO-27
Uplink    	145.850 MHz FM
Downlink  	436.795 MHz FM
Operational, mode J.

Chuck, KM4NZ, recently reset the TEPR states on AO-27 (on
September 3, 1999).
	
TEPR 4 is 34 	TEPR 5 is 70

[ANS thanks Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ, and Michael Wyrick, N4USI, for
AO-27 information]

JAS-1b   FO-20
Uplink   	145.900 to 146.000 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 	435.800 to 435.900 MHz CW/USB
Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously.

FO-20 continues to function quite well. 

[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 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 	435.800 to 435.900 MHz CW/USB
Semi-operational, rotated with digital mode and digi-talker.

Digital Mode JD
Uplink     	145.850  145.870  145.910 MHz FM
Downlink   	435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK
Digitalker 	435.910 MHz
Semi-operational, rotated with analog mode and digi-talker.

Mike, KF4FDJ, has put together a very informative document on FO-29,
addressing analog, digital and digi-talker modes. To obtain a copy
e-mail Mike at:          kf4fdj@amsat.org

Kazu, JJ1WTK, reports the FO-29 operational schedule
(announced by the JARL) is as follows:

through - Oct  4     		digitalker
Oct  5   -  Oct  7     		JA

Mineo, JE9PEL, has updated his FO-29 satellite telemetry analysis
Program. The software will automatically analyze all digital
telemetry from the satellite such as current, voltage and temperature.

The JE9PEL FO-29/software update is available at:

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/

[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-29 status reports]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-276.07

KITSAT   KO-25
Uplink		145.980 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 	436.500 MHz FM
Operational.

Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-25 is performing well with good downlink
efficiency.

[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for KO-25 status information]

KITSAT   KO-23
Uplink   	145.900 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 	435.175 MHz FM
Semi-operational. 

ANS has learned (from HL0ENJ) that satellite downlink telemetry shows
two of KO-23's battery cells to be very unstable. Ground control stations
are operating KO-23 with only minimum systems. Attitude control has been
lost and power failures have been experienced every few months.

Jim, AA7KC, reports the KO-23 BBS returned to service on
September 21, 1999 and the satellite is receiving substantial traffic. Jim
reports KO-23 is exhibiting very good downlink efficiency with easy uplink
access.

[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ,
for KO-23 status information]

UOSAT   UO-22
Uplink   	145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 	435.120 MHz FM
Operational.

Carol, W9HGI, reports UO-22 is performing within acceptable limits.
W9HGI operates the West Coast Packet Satellite Gateway (WSPG) for
the Worldwide Packet Network (WPN).

More information on the satellite is available at the following URL:

http://www.sstl.co.uk/

[ANS thanks Carol Byers, W9HGI and Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO,
for UO-22 status information]

OSCAR-11
Downlink  	    145.825 MHz FM, 1200 baud AFSK
Mode-S Beacon  2401.500 MHz
Operational.

The operating schedule is unchanged.

        ASCII status (210 seconds)
        ASCII bulletin  (60 seconds)
        BINARY SEU (30 seconds)
        ASCII TLM (90 seconds)
        ASCII WOD (120 seconds)
        ASCII bulletin (60 seconds)
        BINARY ENG (30 seconds)

The ASCII bulletin is currently a static message, detailing modes and
frequencies of all the amateur radio satellites.

More information on OSCAR-11 is available at the following URL:

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/

[ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for OSCAR-11 status information]

PACSAT   AO-16
Uplink     145.90 145.92 145.94 145.86 MHz FM
               using 1200 baud Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK
Mode-S Beacon   2401.1428 MHz
Operational (with the exception of the mode-S beacon,
which is currently off).

AO-16 has operated continuously for over 1,800 days since its
last software reload.

AO-16 telemetry is as follows:

Time is Sat Oct 02 11:31:28 1999 uptime is 1840/05:49:37
+5 Volt Bus      5.033 V  	+2.5V  VREF      2.495 V
8.5V BUS         8.602 V  	+10V Bus          11.150 V
+Z Array V      22.608 V  	+X (RX) Temp    -3.632 D
RX Temp         -3.632 D  	BCR Set Point  125.746 C
BCR Load Cur     0.343 A  	BCR Input Cur     0.470 A
BCR Output Cur   0.360 A  	Baseplt Temp       4.234 D
RC PSK TX Out    0.472 W  	RC PSK BP Temp  1.814 D
RC PSK HPA Tmp   1.814 D  	+Y Array Temp       4.839 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp  -0.002 D  	+Z Array Temp       0.603 D
Total Array C= 0.436 Bat Ch Cur= 0.017 Ifb= 0.034 I+10V= 0.309
TX:010B BCR:82 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:16

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 AO-16 status information]

LUSAT   LO-19
Uplink 	  145.84 145.86 145.88 145.90 MHz FM
               using 1200 baud Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK
Currently semi-operational. No BBS service. The digipeater is active.

LO-19 telemetry is as follows:

Time is Sat Oct 02 12:02:49 1999 uptime is 427/22:28:11
BCR Load Cur     0.158 A  	BCR Input Cur    0.302 A
BCR Output Cur  0.261 A  	Bat 1 Temp         0.692 D
Bat 2 Temp          1.252 D  	Baseplt Temp      1.813 D
RC PSK TX Out   0.630 W  	RC PSK BP Temp  -0.991 D
RC PSK HPA Tmp  -0.991 D  	+Y Array Temp    2.374 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp  -2.113 D  	+Z Array Temp   -2.113 D
Total Array C= 0.277 Bat Ch Cur= 0.103 Ifb= 0.025 I+10V= 0.133
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 LO-19 status information]

TMSAT-1   TO-31
Uplink   	145.925 MHz  9600 baud FSK
Downlink 	436.925 MHz  9600 baud FSK
Operational.

ProcMail V2.00G has been released by G7UPN. This software permits
the processing of image files from TO-31. It has been posted to the
AMSAT-NA FTP site at the following URL:

http://www.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/wisp

[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for TO-31 status
information]

PANSAT   PO-34
Uplink/downlink frequencies have not been established.
The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions.

PanSat, developed by the Naval Postgraduate School, was launched
from the shuttle Discovery during STS-95. PanSat spread-spectrum
digital transponders will be available to amateur radio operators in the
near future along with software to utilize this technology.

Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, PanSat Project Manager recommends
'The ARRL Spread Spectrum Sourcebook' as a good place to start in
understanding the spread-spectrum scheme.

For more information, visit the official PanSat web site at:

http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/pansat/

PanSat is the featured cover article in the July/August issue of the
AMSAT-NA Journal (written by KD6DRA and N7HPR).

[ANS thanks Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, for this information]

SUNSAT   SO-35
Semi-operational. Modes of operation and uplink/downlink
frequencies have yet to be officially established.
 
SunSat was launched February 23, 1999 aboard a Delta II rocket from
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. SunSat stands for
Stellenbosch University Satellite and takes it name from the South
African university whose students constructed the payload.

The SunSat package includes 1200 and 9600 baud digital
store-and-forward capability and a voice 'parrot' repeater system
that will be used primarily for educational demonstrations.
The satellite has two VHF and two UHF transmit-receive systems.

SunSat has been in mode-J recently. Bruce, KK5DO, has recorded
several mode-J SO-35 passes in RealAudio, check out the following
web site to listen:

http://www.amsatnet.com.

The SunSat mode-J schedule is as follows: 

October 9th
Africa                    09:16 - 09:32 UTC
USA                     16:15 - 16:30
USA                     17:50 - 18:10
USA                     19:34 - 19:48
The three successive passes over the U.S. 
correspond with the AMSAT Symposium.

October 10th
Australia                01:56 - 02:12 UTC
Africa                    10:16 - 10:34
Europe                  10:38 - 10:52
USA                     17:11 - 17:30

For more information on SunSat, visit the following URL:

http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za

[ANS thanks Garth Milne ZR1AFH, for this information]

UoSAT-12   UO-36
Downlink	437.025 MHz
             	437.400 MHz

UoSAT-12 was successfully launched on April 21, 1999 from the
Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome. UO-36 carries a number of imaging
payloads, digital store-and-forward communications and mode L/S
transponders.

The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions.

UO-36 has been transmitting 9600-baud FSK telemetry framed in a
VLSI format using a downlink frequency of 437.400 MHz. Chris,
G7UPN, reports UO-36 is also transmitting on 437.025 MHz at a
baud rate of 38,400 (38k4). 

G7UPN also tells ANS that UO-36 is severely power limited and Chris
is working on a new protocol to allow the downlink to only be switched
on over active ground stations. "Once we get this going, UO-36 will be
running the 38k4 downlink, and will be available when spacecraft
resources (primarily power) permit," said G7UPN. 

Presently the BBS is still closed.

S-band high speed downlink commissioning continues at rates
between 128kb/s and 1Mb/s. The S-band downlink frequency has
not been announced.

The VK5HI/TMSAT viewer shareware is available on the AMSAT-NA
web site at the following URL:

ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/display/ccddsp97-119.zip

Further information on UO-36 is available from: http://www.sstl.co.uk/

[ANS thanks Chris G7UPN/ZL2TPO, and the University of Surrey for
this information]

ITAMSAT   IO-26
Uplink   	145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM 1200 baud
Downlink 	435.822 MHz SSB
Semi-operational.

IO-26 was launched on the September 26, 1993, recently celebrating
its sixth birthday.

Ground control stations are attempting to activate the digipeater on IO-26.
The spacecraft has been in MBL mode and an overall check has shown
the satellite to be in good condition.

Mineo, JE9PEL, recently received IO-26 digital signals.

[ANS thanks ITAMSAT Project Manager Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD, for this
information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.08 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-276.08

THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE
NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME:

MIR SPACE STATION
Ham radio activity aboard the Mir space station came to a close on
August 28, 1999 as the crew returned to Earth, leaving the station
unmanned. Mir is in a stable orbit with only essential systems running.
All Amateur Radio activities have ceased. Currently, the station is being
prepared for re-entry sometime in the first quarter of 2000, however, the
final fate of the space station has not been formally announced. Stay
tuned to ANS for further developments.

Current Amateur Radio equipment aboard Mir includes: 

MIR SAFEX II 70-cm Repeater
Uplink		435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz
Downlink  	437.950 MHz FM
Not operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed.

MIR SAFEX II 70-cm QSO Mode
Uplink    	435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz
Downlink  	437.925 MHz FM
Not operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed.

MIR PERSONAL MESSAGE SYSTEM (PMS)
Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK
Not operational.

RS-16
The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational.

Attempts to command the mode A transponder 'on' have been
unsuccessful to date. No additional information is available at this time.

DOVE   DO-17
Downlink       145.825 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK
  	       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. 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.

TECHSAT-1B   GO-32
Downlink 	435.225 MHz using HDLC telemetry
Unknown status. ANS has not received any recent updates concerning
the current status of GO-32.

The TechSat-1B micro-satellite was successfully launched from the
Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998.

Last reported, 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), on 435.225 MHz.

The TechSat team has constructed a home page about TechSat.
To view the site, point your web browser to:

http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/

No additional information is available at this time.

SEDSAT-1   SO-33
Downlink 	437.910 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions and
recovery efforts have been unsuccessful over the past year.

Mineo, JE9PEL, reports he has again received minimal telemetry
(one frame) from the satellite recently, dated September 20th.

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.

For more information on SedSat-1 visit the satellite web site at the
following URL:

http://www.seds.org/sedsat

No additional information is available at this time.

/EX

--ANS END---

ANS would like to thank Mike Seguin, N1JEZ, ANS principal satellite
investigator, for helping provide current satellite information for ANS.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to
ans-editor@amsat.org

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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