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[jamsat-news:1356] * SpaceNews 30-Oct-00
SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC1030
* SpaceNews 30-Oct-00 *
BID: $SPC1030
=========
SpaceNews
=========
MONDAY OCTOBER 30, 2000
* PHASE 3D LAUNCH UPDATE *
==========================
Phase 3D is now scheduled for launch on Tuesday, November 14,
2000 from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. This
launch information comes from the Arianespace web site. The site
now features the mid-November revised launch date for Ariane 5
Flight 135, on which Phase 3D will fly. The launch was delayed from
a tentative October 31 window.
The launch team Internet web site has been popular with satellite
operators around the world. The site features photographs showing
the Phase 3D launch preparation process. To visit the site, point
your browser to:
http://www.amsat-dl.org/launch/
Most of the recent photographs show the fueling process including both
hydrazine and ammonia. According to launch team member Chuck Green,
N0ADI, (who also helped fuel P3D) "ammonia sounds like something you
can purchase at the local store for cleaning, but at 100% concentration
it deserves the same precautions that rocket fuels are given." Chuck
reports this was the first time ammonia has ever been used as a fuel
in Kourou and only the second time worldwide, "so the process received
a great deal of attention."
Following the successful fueling operation, installation of the solar
panels was completed. Chuck reported that panel installation "was a
little more difficult because at this point the satellite was already
installed in the SBS."
N0ADI reported that combined operations then started with the first step
of setting the satellite and SBS into the CCU transport container. "The
next operation completed was to move the satellite from S3A, where we
prepared and fueled it, to the Final Assembly Building where it will be
placed on the rocket," said Chuck. Movement was conducted at night to
avoid the daytime heat and involved a convoy of safety vehicles and a
truck pulling the CCU container with P3-D safely inside.
P3D spent the night in the Final Assembly Building before being opened,
allowing the airlock in the building to be thermally stabilized. P3D
was then moved and carefully lowered into place between two microsats
already installed for launch.
With the satellite no longer in the S3A building, the AMSAT launch team
vacated the office space in the S3 complex and moved to the block house
overlooking the launch control room. Here they have a remote link where
they can monitor the telemetry from the satellite, issue commands as
needed and control the charging of the batteries.
[Info via the AMSAT-NA News Service]
* ARISS NEWS *
==============
The ARISS initial station gear is now temporarily stowed aboard the
Functional Cargo Block module of ISS. The initial station will use an
existing antenna that will be adapted to support 2-meter FM voice and
packet. The ARISS equipment will get a more-permanent home aboard
the Service Module in 2001, along with VHF and UHF antennas. Plans
call for amateur TV, both slow scan and fast scan ATV, a digipeater
and relay stations.
Planning for the deployment and use of the ham system aboard ISS has
been an international effort coordinated by NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center. The effort began in 1996 with the formation of the
Amateur Radio International Space Station organization. ARISS is
made up of delegates from major national amateur radio organizations,
including AMSAT.
Launch of the first ISS crew, Expedition One, is set for the morning of
October 31st, on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. William
Shepherd, KD5GSL, is the expedition commander. Yuri Gidzenko is the
Soyuz vehicle commander. Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, is the flight engineer.
NASA Television plans extensive coverage, beginning at 0200 EST on that
date.
The flight to the ISS will take approximately two days, with a docking
expected on November 2nd. The crew has expressed a high level of interest
in beginning amateur radio operations early in their mission but it may be
several weeks before they can setup the amateur radio station and begin
operations (probably no earlier than November 14).
The crew may be using their own callsigns (KD5GSL, U5MIR) or they may be
using one of the club stations allocated to the ISS: DL0ISS, NA1SS, or
RZ3DZR.
The Expedition One crew's activities are being scheduled around the UTC
timeframe. It is expected that their working day will start around 0800
UTC and end near 1900 UTC. There may be a lunch break near 1200 UTC.
Passes near the beginning, lunchtime, and end of the crew day might be
good times to find a crewmember relaxing with amateur radio activities.
The crew also has a "weekend" off from 1200 UTC on Saturday until the
end of the day on Sunday. This might be another good time to listen for
crewmembers using the amateur radio equipment. Please remember that the
crew is using ham radio to relax from a very difficult job. They may,
or may not, be interested in working a pile-up. They might be more
interested in "rag chewing" with one or two hams on a given pass.
Please respect each crewmembers different operating style.
It is not known yet how much power on board the ISS will be available
for leaving the packet rig powered during times when the crew cannot
perform voice contacts. We continue to request that the packet rig be
left on as much as possible. The crew has been trained in the use of
the beaconing capabilities, and we hope that they will use that to share
their experiences as the first permanent crew on the ISS. This is a
"standard" AFSK AX.25 "terrestrial packet" rig, so it can be used for
APRS and email can be sent to the crew. Please do not use the system
to leave email for other hams on the ground. Use the mailbox to leave
email for the crew.
Initial operations will only take place on the 2m band. The tentative
frequencies are:
Worldwide downlink for voice and packet: 145.800 MHz
Worldwide packet uplink: 145.990 MHz
Region 1 voice uplink: 145.200 MHz
Region 2 & 3 voice uplink: 144.490 MHz
Please remember to practice good operating practices and remain
courteous and patient with this crew while they establish their ham
operations preferences. Listen before transmitting, to make sure you
don't step upon another QSO. Wait for the crew to call for contacts
before transmitting. Please let others have a chance with a rare
contact, don't monopolize the crew or the packet rig. Please do not
ask the crew to schedule school contacts or other schedules: this puts
them in an awkward and uncomfortable position. Information about
requesting dedicated contacts will be available on the ARISS web
pages (http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/) shortly.
QSLs and SWLs will be accepted and can be processed through Radio
Amateurs of Canada or the American Radio Relay League. The card design
is being finalized, but should be ready for distribution early next
year. Details can be found on the ARISS web page.
The planning for school operations is actively underway, and efforts are
being made to have the first several school contacts before the end of
the year. It is hoped that several school contacts can be accommodated
each month, but the crew will be exceedingly busy and everyone must be
prepared to support more, or possibly, fewer school contacts. The
initial schools have been contacted and efforts are underway to finalize
the details of their contacts. The ARISS organization is beginning to
accept applications for school contacts; however, the crew workload will
determine the amount of time that passes between accepting an application
and when a contact is scheduled. We must all remember that these are
very early times for the ISS and we need to remain flexible in pursuing
amateur radio operations with the crews.
Please stay tuned to the ARISS web pages (http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/)
for the latest information about frequencies and other operational
issues.
[Info the AMSAT-NA News Service and Will Marchant, KC6ROL]
* NOAA-16 NEWS *
================
The NOAA-16 spacecraft APT and Beacon Transmitters were turned off at
1800 UTC on 19 October 2000.
NOAA-16 spacecraft VHF transmitters will be in conflict with the NOAA-14
operational spacecraft transmitters. NOAA-16 will continue undergoing
its test phase.
The NOAA-16 APT and BTX transmitters are expected to be turned on again
effective 7 November.
[Info via John, F6HCC]
* 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 @ WB2COP.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET: kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net
SATELLITE: KITSAT-OSCAR-25
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