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[jamsat-news:1292] * SpaceNews 26-Jun-2000 *


SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0626
* SpaceNews 26-Jun-00 *

BID: $SPC0626


			       =========
			       SpaceNews
			       =========


		 	  MONDAY JUNE 26, 2000



* WERNER HAAS: SILENT KEY *
===========================
On Tuesday June 13th 2000, Werner Haas, DJ5KQ, Vice President of AMSAT-DL,
and one of the leaders for the design, development and construction of all
Phase 3 Satellites, including Phase 3-D, became a Silent Key.

From an early age on, Werner was fascinated by radio.  This determined the
choice of his professional career, and in 1959 he took his license exam to
become a Radio Amateur with heart and soul.

Initially, Werner started his career in the electronic retail business, but
in 1965 he joined the ZEL of the University of Marburg in which he could
fully bring to bear his genius for electronic development.

But his interests and ambitions reached beyond the purely professional.
In the early seventies, Werner got intrigued by the possibilities offered
by combining radio technology and space satellites.  This combination of
disciplines became the guiding star for the rest of his life.  This found
it's formal expression in the foundation of AMSAT-DL eV; and from the first
hour Werner, shaped the development of AMSAT-DL serving as Vice President.

In spite of all the administrative duties which Werner accepted for AMSAT-DL,
his true heart remained with radio technology.  In particular, Werner was
fascinated by satellite transponders and Werner built the transponders for
all five satellites in which AMSAT-DL had a leading role.

These central parts of the satellites were the major factors in the success
of those AMSAT missions.  Werner was always ready to pass on his enthusiasm
and his technical know-how, so it comes as no surprise that Werner was not
only admired, but that he also made many close friends all over the world.
As a side effect, the flying satellite became a monument for Werner, which
will constitute a yardstick for technical excellence for decades.

During his last ten years,  Werner's main interest was to ensure the success
of the Phase 3-D satellite.  For him, P3-D was the crowning achievement of
his life's work.  Even when he was already marked by his sickness, Werner
took it upon himself to personally travel to Orlando to perform the last
acceptance tests of P3-D.  This gave him the assurance that he had given
all in his power to make P3-D successful.

Unfortunately, Werner did not live long enough to see the launch of P3-D
this Autumn.  AMSAT and Amateur Radio are poorer for this loss, but Werner
will live on through his work and thus set an example for future generations:
the world can be made a little better in the context of Amateur Radio by
personal engagement and a sense of duty.  We thank him for this.  Werner
will continue to be with us by his achievements and in our hearts.

Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC
Peter Gulzow, DB2OS
Keith Baker,  KB1SF

[Info via the AMSAT-NA News Service]


* OSCAR-36 NEWS *
=================
Chris Jackson reports that OSCAR-36 (UoSAT-12) is going through a period of
maximum eclipses, and therefore minimum power.  Chris has implemented an
algorithm to point the satellite at the sun during parts of the orbit that
it would otherwise not get any power, and this is helping to a certain extent.
However, if the satellite is in eclipse, then it is possible (probable)
that there may not be enough power at the moment to operate the transponder.

The lowest power point occurred this past weekend.  Solar illumination
conditions for OSCAR-36 are predicted to be as follows:

               KD2BD's Solar Illumination Calendar For OSCAR-36
	  Date     Mins/Day    Sun%          Date      Mins/Day    Sun%
      -----------------------------------------------------------------
      Tue 20Jun00     924     64.17%	 Sat 08Jul00     971     67.43%
      Wed 21Jun00     915     63.54%	 Sun 09Jul00     967     67.15%
      Thu 22Jun00     926     64.31%	 Mon 10Jul00     976     67.78%
      Fri 23Jun00     932     64.72%	 Tue 11Jul00    1007     69.93%
      Sat 24Jun00     910     63.19%	 Wed 12Jul00     986     68.47%
      Sun 25Jun00     910     63.19%	 Thu 13Jul00     989     68.68%
      Mon 26Jun00     931     64.65%	 Fri 14Jul00    1005     69.79%
      Tue 27Jun00     924     64.17%	 Sat 15Jul00    1009     70.07%
      Wed 28Jun00     911     63.26%	 Sun 16Jul00     992     68.89%
      Thu 29Jun00     917     63.68%	 Mon 17Jul00     989     68.68%
      Fri 30Jun00     943     65.49%	 Tue 18Jul00    1011     70.21%
      Sat 01Jul00     926     64.31%	 Wed 19Jul00     986     68.47%
      Sun 02Jul00     924     64.17%	 Thu 20Jul00     977     67.85%
      Mon 03Jul00     940     65.28%	 Fri 21Jul00     977     67.85%
      Tue 04Jul00     957     66.46%	 Sat 22Jul00     985     68.40%
      Wed 05Jul00     940     65.28%	 Sun 23Jul00     956     66.39%
      Thu 06Jul00     946     65.69%	 Mon 24Jul00     948     65.83%
      Fri 07Jul00     973     67.57%	 Tue 25Jul00     963     66.88%

On Friday morning, everything shut down due to extremely low power.  During
these periods, there are no guarantees that the satellite will properly
function.  Even when the satellite is not in eclipse, it may not have
sufficient power to operate even its basic systems, let alone additional
downlink time.  The downlink on UO-36 is 10 watts, and the satellite is
right on the edge of available power.

Controllers are doing everything they can, but the basic fact is that
OSCAR-36's orbit is not very friendly, and provides a variable power budget
of between 50 and 150 watts.  The minimum systems on UO-36 consume about 50W,
so during minimum power seasons (such as now), the satellite is basically
running slightly on the negative side with the power budget.


* 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


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/EX

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- John A. Magliacane, KD2BD -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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