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[jamsat-news:1204] * SpaceNews 10-Jan-00 *
SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0110
* SpaceNews 10-Jan-00 *
BID: $SPC0110
=========
SpaceNews
=========
MONDAY JANUARY 10, 2000
* FUJI-OSCAR-29 NEWS *
======================
The following is the latest FO-29 operating schedule as announced
by the JARL:
Wed 12-Jan-2000 -to- Sun 16-Jan-2000 : Mode JD 1200 baud
Mon 17-Jan-2000 -to- Mon 31-Jan-2000 : Mode JA
[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]
* WINORBIT AND Y2K *
====================
Users of the Winorbit satellite tracking program are advised that several
problems relating to the year 2000 exist in the program and are currently
being worked on. A new release is expected later this month, and made
available through AMSAT-NA's Web site (www.amsat.org). In the meantime:
* For the Print Ephemeris problem: either enter the starting date as 2000
manually instead of 00, or change the Windows control panel to make the
default short date format have 4 digits.
* For the kep problems, stick to the last set from 1999 - they should be
good for at least a month anyway. The problem occurs when the database is
updated and the wrong information is written. Users can load new keps and
use them as long as you don't update or Autoupdate the database (of course
they will be forgotten when the program exits). Users can also try to
manually correct the database using an editor and pasting in the new
elements if desired.
Please pass the word so I don't have to spend all my free time replying to
emails instead of fixing the problem! Sorry for the hassles. Best wishes.
[Info via Carl Gregory and Ken, N1WED]
* PREDICT FOR DOS RELEASED *
============================
PREDICT Version 2 for DOS is a satellite tracking and orbital prediction
program written by John A. Magliacane, KD2BD. It was ported to DOS from
the latest Linux version available in late December 1999, and is intended
as a replacement for the original DOS version. The new version clears
up some minor Y2K issues and adds many new features not present in the
original version.
The major features of PREDICT Version 2 for DOS include:
* Fully year 2000 compliant code.
* Compiled into highly-optimized 32-bit executable code that operates
under a protected mode environment during execution to harness
the full processing power of your (80386 or better) CPU.
* Licensed under the GNU General Public License, thereby allowing
anyone to contribute new features to the program while forever
keeping the software, and any derivative works, non-proprietary
and freely available.
* Includes a *FAST* orbital prediction mode that accurately predicts
satellite passes, providing dates, times, coordinates, slant
range distances, and sunlight and optical visibility information.
Predictions are displayed in tabular form and may be saved to a
log file for later reference or printing.
* Includes a visual orbital prediction mode that displays satellite
passes that are potentially visible to the ground station by
optical means.
* Features a real-time single satellite tracking mode that provides
dynamic information such as sub-satellite point, ground station
azimuth and elevation headings, Doppler shift, path loss, slant
range, orbital altitude, orbital velocity, footprint diameter,
orbital phase, the time and date of the next AOS (or LOS of the
current pass), orbit number, and sunlight and visibility information
for a single satellite, while providing live azimuth and elevation
headings for both the sun and moon.
* Features a multi-satellite tracking mode that provides sub-satellite
point, azimuth and elevation headings, sunlight and visibility,
and slant range distance information for all 24 satellites in the
program's current database on a real-time basis. Azimuth and
elevation headings for the sun and moon are also provided, as a
well as a listing of the AOS dates and times for the next three
satellites expected to come into range of the ground station.
* Provides static information such as semi-major axis of ellipse,
apogee and perigee altitudes, and anomalistic and nodal periods
of satellite orbits.
* Includes command line options that permit alternate ground station
locations to be specified or alternate orbital databases to be read
and processed by the program, effectively allowing an UNLIMITED
number of satellites to be tracked and managed. Additional options
allow any orbital database file to be automatically updated using
NASA Two-Line element data obtained via the Internet or via Pacsat
satellite without having to enter the program and manually select
menu options to update the database.
PREDICT Version 2 for DOS was compiled under Caldera's DR-DOS 7.02
operating system using the DJGPP version 2.01 32-bit protected mode
software development environment (gcc 2.7.2.1, PDCurses 2.2). Features
present in the Linux version of PREDICT that require OS-specific drivers,
capabilities, or features such as true multitasking, were not ported to
the DOS version.
The latest news and information regarding PREDICT software is available
via the World Wide Web at:
http://www.linuxfan.com/~predict
PREDICT Version 2 for DOS may be downloaded via the Internet at:
ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/software/PC/tracking/predict2.zip
* 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/
MAIL: John A. Magliacane, KD2BD
Department of Engineering and Technology
Brookdale Community College
765 Newman Springs Road
Lincroft, New Jersey 07738
U.S.A.
PACKET: KD2BD @ N2TDU.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET: kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net
SATELLITE: AMSAT-OSCAR-16, KITSAT-OSCAR-25
<<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>>
<<=- Serving the planet (and beyond) since 1987 -=>>
/EX
--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- John A. Magliacane, KD2BD -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Internet : kd2bd@amsat.org | Voice : +1.732.224.2948
Satellite : AO-16, KO-25 | Morse : -.- -.. ..--- -... -..
Packet : KD2BD @ N2TDU.NJ.USA.NA | WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
Video : 426.250 MHz/439.250 MHz | FAX : +1.732.224.2060
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Linux Doesn't Cost. It Pays. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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