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[jamsat-news:1306] * SpaceNews 24-Jul-00 *


SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0724
* SpaceNews 24-Jul-00 *

BID: $SPC0724


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


		 	  MONDAY JULY 24, 2000



* ZVEZDA MODULE HEADED TO ISS *
===============================
A Russian Proton-K rocket has successfully orbited the Zvezda Service
module, a key component of the International Space Station.  The launch
occurred July 12th from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan.

The Zvezda module will remotely dock with the two ISS sections now in
orbit.  The expected docking is scheduled for the end of July.  Zvezda,
which is Russian for "star", will provide living quarters along with
power, steering capability, sewage system and sleeping quarters for ISS
crews.  The 22-ton, 43-foot-long segment of ISS cost about $320 million
to build.  If docking is successful, NASA reports the first crew could
go to the station as early as this October.

AMSAT VP for Human Spaceflight Programs, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, was elated
with the news.  "Zvezda is expected to be the home of the Amateur Radio
equipment aboard the Station," said KA3HDO, "we are now one step closer
to having ham radio permanently aboard ISS."

The International Space Station project involves many nations, including
Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the
Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.  Crews of men and
women from many nations are to live and work inside the station during
the construction period and for several years after it is completed.

[Info via the AMSAT-NA News Service]


* OSCAR-36 IMAGES *
===================
EA1IW and SM5BVF have recently uploaded high-resolution color images of the
earth taken by the OSCAR-36 satellite to the KITSAT-OSCAR-25 satellite in
JPG format.  Images of Naples and Rome, Italy, as well as Athens, Greece
were recently uploaded by these stations and made available to users of
the KO-25 satellite.


* OSCAR-11 NEWS *
=================
During the period 16 June to 17 July 2000, reliable signals have been
received from OSCAR-11's 145.826 MHz VHF beacon in spite of the rather
low battery voltage.

The battery voltage observed during daylight passes has remained almost
constant.  The average value observed was 13.4, with a range of 13.0 to
13.6 volts.

The internal temperatures have also remained fairly steady during the
month.  They are now -1.0C and -2.4C for battery and telemetry electronics
respectively.  It is likely that the minimum temperature has been reached
and that the temperatures will soon start to increase as eclipse times
become shorter.

The single WOD survey of channels 10, 20, 30, 40 (+Y, -X, +X solar array
currents, array voltage), dated January 06 has been transmitted.  Note the
year of this WOD survey is incorrectly displayed as 99.  This survey clearly
shows the solar eclipses, and a spin period of 340 seconds.

The Mode-S beacon has been heard by Jean-Louis F6AGR.  He achieved a 12 dB
S/N ratio using a Drake converter with the simple modifications, and a 21
turn RHP helix.  His results are available as audio and spectrogram files.

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.

There are additional status blocks after each bulletin is transmitted, and
between ASCII TLM and WOD.

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 test source for those testing Mode-S converters prior
to the launch of P3-D.  However, the signals are very weak and there is
a lot of Doppler shift.  Users should also note that the polarization of
OSCAR-11 is LHC.  Even if you can't hear OSCAR-11, your equipment may
still be OK for P3-D.  Any reports of reception on 2401 MHz would be
most welcome, and should be directed to Clive Wallis at: g3cwv@amsat.org.

The 435.025 MHz UHF-FM beacon is normally OFF.  However, it can sometimes
be heard when the satellite is being commanded by ground control, ie.
within range of Guildford, UK.  When the UHF beacon is transmitting,
the VHF beacon is normally OFF.  The data transmitted is mainly binary.

Listeners to OSCAR-11 may be interested in visiting a web site dedicated
to the satellite.  The site contains details of hardware required and some
software for capturing data, and decoding ASCII telemetry and WOD.  There
is an archive of raw data (mainly WOD) for analysis, which is continually
being expanded as new data is captured.  Also included are some audio files
providing examples of each type of data transmitted by OSCAR-11.  Each one
plays for about ten seconds.  There are also examples of Mode-S reception.
All the audio files are zipped so that they can be played off-line.  These
should help listeners identify the various types of data, and give an
indication of the signal quality required for successful decoding.

The URL is:

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

[Info via Clive Wallis, G3CWV (g3cwv@amsat.org)]


* KD2BD.ORG NEWS *
==================
Just a reminder that discussions and information relating to the amateur
space program, associated hardware, and Linux-based software is available
at the following URL:

	http://www.kd2bd.org/

Users are free to add their own discussion groups, receive discussion
updates via e-mail, and so on. 


* THANKS! *
===========
Thanks to those who recently sent messages of appreciation for SpaceNews,
especially:

			N1ORC		9V1UV


* 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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