[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

[jamsat-news:1385] ANS 345


AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 345

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.

ANS is first released via the AMSAT-NA 20-meter net held each Sunday
on 14.282 MHz. Pre-net operations start at 18:00 UTC, with current ANS
bulletins transmitted to the western U.S. at 19:00 UTC and to the eastern
U.S. at 19:30 UTC. ANS is also released worldwide via the AMSAT ANS
e-mail reflector.

AMSAT-NA is pleased to announce that recent and future development
in Amateur Radio satellites will take place in Atlanta, Georgia at the
19th Space Symposium and AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting, October 5-6,
2001. 	The 2001 Symposium Chairman is Steve Diggs, W4EPI. Contact
W4EPI at:          w4epi@amsat.org

Information on AMSAT-NA is available at the following URL:

http://www.amsat.org (or from)

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 area (AMSAT-NE)
* AMSAT Educational Liaison mailing list (AMSAT-EDU)
* AMSAT K-12 Educational Liaison mailing list (AMSAT-K12)

A daily digest version is available for each list.

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 Steve Affens, K3SA,
a well-known contester and DXer from Olney, Maryland, who died recently.
K3SA was first licensed in 1963. In his professional life he was a
videographer for WJLA in Washington, DC, which described him as
"one of the nation's most distinguished photojournalists." [ANS thanks
KA3TUE, W3UR, WB3GXW, and the ARRL for this information]

ANS is always dedicated to the memory of past ANS editor 'BJ' Arts,
WT0N, and to the memory of long-time AMSAT supporter Werner
Haas, DJ5KQ.

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.01
PHASE 3D/AO-40 UPDATE

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 345.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 10, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-345.01

General housekeeping tasks continue underway as ground stations
test the complex systems onboard AMSAT OSCAR-40. Magnetorquing
operations have also continued this past week.

North American P3D Command Station operator Stacey Mills, W4SM,
reports both S-band transmitters (S-1 and S-2) has been activated
recently. The S-band transmitters will be activated when reasonable
squint angle and visibility are available. ANS reminds all ground
stations that doppler correction at S-band frequencies and at this
point in the orbit will be dramatic.

Greg, N憙HE, reports the S-2 beacon was heard at his QTH with
good signals using a Drake downconverter and a homebrew 20 turn
helix. Bill, WA2TQI, also reports good signals using a dish and a
Drake downconverter. "Signals where running 3 to 4 S-units above
the noise," said Bill, "and I was able to read telemetry intermittently."

Several stations have noted the recent IHU-2 software crashes indicated
by downlinked telemetry. AO-40 command station operator James Miller,
G3RUH, comments: "IHU-2, which is repeating the IHU-1 information,
has crashed recently. The data is a diagnostic dump of CPU registers,
stacks etc. I reset IHU-2." James also reports that " there is at least one
command station monitoring AO-40 all the time. We don't miss much!"

Any IHU-2 software crash is not considered to be a serious problem by
the AO-40 team. 

The current focus on AO-40 is the orbital parameter change involving the
400N onboard engine. This first burn unofficially took place on December
11th at 04:14 UTC, with a second burn also planned. As this edition of ANS
is released, the success or failure of the burn events were not available
from the AO-40 command team. Stay tuned to ANS for full details as they
become available.

Jim, WD0E, reported to ANS that the RUDAK experiment aboard AO-40
was powered on for the first time recently. According to WD0E the
RUDAK team (in Colorado) was able to command AO-40 to bring up the
level on one of the RUDAK 9k6 modulators "and we were able to hear it
via the S-2 transmitter." Jim reports this is the first step in a long
process
to test all the RUDAK subsystems. In addition to its packet-radio-service
communication, RUDAK is the key to experiments like SCOPE, GPS,
CEDEX and RF-Monitor.

RUDAK frequencies may be changed during the commissioning process
(without prior announcement), currently they are:

RUDAK-A 	2401.747 and 2401.720 MHz
RUDAK-B 	2401.867 and 2401.847 MHz

The GPS equipment supported by RUDAK will be tested and checked out
as power, pointing angles, and other primary 'bus' commissioning activities
allow. The GPS units should provide interesting information about the
satellite, including element and attitude data. Jim wisely points out that
"this assumes all the bits and pieces work. The GPS equipment is very
much an experiment."

RUDAK team member KB0G announced the availability of an updated
set of web pages with information about the RUDAK digital
communications system aboard AO-40. Access the material from the link
on the AMSAT page or view the RUDAK information directly at:

http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/ao40/rudak/index.html

There is another (new) AO-40 web page, dealing with getting started on
AO-40, and general help in receiving AO-40 telemetry. Check out this
new information at:

http://ao40.homestead.com

The latest batch of AO-40 images are available at:

http://camel.campbell.edu/~hammond/ham/p3d/images/

AMSAT's AO-40 telemetry archive is at:

ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/telemetry/ao40/

Stay tuned to ANS, the official source of information on AMSAT
OSCAR 40.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-NA for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.02
ARISS UPDATE

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 345.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 10, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-345.02

The ARRL is reporting that ARISS delegates have ratified new bylaws
and elected officers during a meeting held recently at Goddard Space
Flight Center in Maryland.

Delegates from the United States, Russia, a consortium of European
countries, Canada and Japan elected AMSAT's Frank Bauer, KA3HDO,
to chair the ARISS Board. European Sub-regional Working Group
Chairman Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, was chosen as Vice Chair. ARRL
Field and Educational Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, was
elected Secretary-Treasurer. All will serve for two years. Congratulations
to all from AMSAT News Service!

ARISS delegates also approved a QSL card that features a beautiful
color photograph of the orbiting station and a Russian proposal to send
up a higher-power mobile transceiver to be installed in the Zvezda
Service Module. A proposal to activate Slow-Scan TV was also reviewed.

On the communications front, Randy Shriver, KG3N, of Hanover,
Pennsylvania managed to snag the first informal contact with ISS crew
commander William Shepherd, KD5GSL. The contact took place on
November 13th as Shepard completed an 'engineering pass' contact with
NN1SS. KG3N dropped in a quick call, and Shepherd came back to him
using his own call sign.

Students at the Luther Burbank School in Burbank, Illinois, will get a
chance to speak with the crew of Space Station Alpha very soon.
AMSAT's Will Marchant, KC6ROL, says the contact is scheduled to take
place on December 19th. "I've just been told that the Burbank school
contact is confirmed for Tuesday," said KC6ROL, adding, "remember
that this is contingent upon normal operations on orbit... but, everything
looks good!" Efforts are under way to set up a Web-cast of the contact.

Another 18 schools are under consideration for ARISS school contacts.

The Discovery Channel aired a program that most Amateur Radio
satellite operators found very interesting. 'Inside the Space Station'
initially was broadcast on Sunday, December 10th. The program
mentions the ARISS program and the ham gear aboard ISS. In case
ANS readers missed it, the program repeats in North America on
December 17, 18 and 23, 2000. Check local listing for times, or visit
the Discovery Channel web site for details at:

http://www.discovery.com/stories/science/iss/iss.html

KC6ROL has added new links with more details about the upcoming
school contact, the ARISS partners meeting, and the new NASA web
page about Amateur Radio. Check it out at:

http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/pressrelease.html 

[ANS thanks the ARISS team, Will Marchant, KC6ROL, and the ARRL
for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.03
2001 PRELIMINARY AMSAT SYMPOSIUM DETAILS

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 345.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 10, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-345.03

ANS feels that it's never too late to start putting your plans together to
attend the 19th Space Symposium and AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting
-- scheduled for the fall of 2001!

Here are some preliminary details:

Time: 		Friday and Saturday, October 5 and 6, 2001
Location: 	Holiday Inn Select
		130 Clairemont Ave.
		Decatur, Georgia  30030-2501

The Symposium Chairman is Steve Diggs, W4EPI. Steve told ANS
"that Decatur is a historic city near downtown Atlanta, the site a of
Civil War battle. The hotel is within walking distance of MARTA, our
rapid rail transit system. An attendee can get on MARTA outside of
baggage claim at the Hartsfield Airport and ride all the way to Decatur."

Information about the Decatur Holiday Inn Select can be found at:

http://www.basshotels.com/holiday-inn?_franchisee=ATLDC

Steve mentioned that his efforts as Symposium Chair are being
supplemented by his wife Diana, "she is definitely my right hand in
organizing this whole thing," said W4EPI.

Contact Steve at:  		 w4epi@amsat.org 
W4EPI's home page is at:	 www.w4epi.dyndns.org

[ANS thanks Steve and Diana Diggs for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.04
ANS IN BRIEF

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 345.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 10, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-345.04

ANS news in brief this week includes the following:

** AMSAT has several satellite awards available including some that
are QSL-free, (such as the W4AMI Satellite Operator Achievement
Award). See http://www.amsat.org/amsat/awards/awards.html for
details. -Paul, KB5MU

** The ARRL's Joe Moell, K0OV, says hams in the Central U.S. had
an unusual form of public service as many have been listening just
above 172 MHz for brief transmissions from radio tags on 52
endangered burrowing owls. The rare birds have left Saskatchewan
and Alberta for warmer weather in southern Texas and northern Mexico.
Now that the fall migration is complete, hams in Texas and surrounding
states are being asked to monitor for the tags this winter. For details on
owl-tracking efforts, visit http://www.homingin.com. -ARRL

** President Clinton has signed legislation that permits the enforcement
of certain FCC Citizens Band regulations by state and local governments.
Amateur Radio operators are exempt from the provisions of the law, now
PL 106-521. -ARRL

** Pat, N8PK, reports the recent shuttle launch was "the third time I've
seen it from Maryland and this was the longest and brightest to date." 
Pat says the launch actually had some color to it as well, a little bit of
orange and red. According to the commentator on shuttle re-transmission
station WA3NAN - pat reports that it was travelling at about 4,000 mph
and climbing when he saw it. -Pat, N8PK

** ON1CAU has updated his web site with AO-40 related information and
audio from the V-band beacon -- recorded by YB4JIM, NP2L, N8TDL and
ON1CAU using three different formats. Checkout the site at the following
URL: http://users.skynet.be/on1cau/. -Berto, ON1CAU

** As Christmas approaches, the brilliant 'evening star' Venus will shine
close to a thin crescent Moon during and after twilight. The sight will be a
head-turner -- a beautiful celestial display worth making a special note to
see. -SpaceDaily

** The Times of India newspaper reports recently that cheap cordless
telephones imported illegally are causing havoc on VHF frequencies
including interference with Amateur Radio satellites. CQ magazine
has more details at: http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com. -Rich, W2VU

** AMSAT-NA President VE3FRH was asked just what he wanted for
Christmas... and replied "some of us have a problem in deciding what
we want for Christmas, and I thought a one year membership in AMSAT
(or more) along with various AO-40 related premiums might be a good
idea!"  ANS agrees! Another way to help with AO-40 funding is with a
donation by ordering the 1:20th scale, fully detailed display model kit of
Phase 3D. Call Martha at 301-589-6062 for details. -NN0DJ

** The Spacewatch Project at the University of Arizona has discovered
a minor planet in the outer reaches of the solar system which appears
to be the brightest known such object other than Pluto. -SpaceDaily

--ANS BULLETIN END---

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 345.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 10, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-345.05

Phase 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 / AO-40
V-band beacon:		145.898 MHz
S-Band transmitters: 	operational at certain times
Launched: November 16, 2000 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher
from Kourou, French Guiana. A 50-second video of the launch
can be seen at: http://arianespace.com/interior/v135better.mov

Status: Initial commissioning and housekeeping tasks continue
underway

Uplink/downlink frequency plan: http://www.amsat-dl.org/p3dqrg.html

Although safely in orbit, there is much work to be done with Phase 3D
before the satellite is opened for general Amateur Radio use. Initial
housekeeping tasks are now underway to verify the health of the many
complex systems onboard - followed by bringing these systems online.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL for this information]

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/ARISS
Worldwide packet uplink:	145.990 MHz
Region 1 voice uplink:         	145.200 MHz
Region 2/3 voice uplink:      	144.490 MHz
Worldwide downlink:	    	145.800 MHz
TNC callsign		      RZ3DZR
ARISS initial station launched September 2000 aboard shuttle Atlantis
Status: Operational (although current ISS workload is limiting operation)

ARISS is made up of delegates from major national Amateur Radio
organizations, including AMSAT.

U.S. callsign: NA1SS  (NN1SS will be used for ground-based
transmissions from the Goddard Space Flight Center)
Russian callsign:	RZ3DZR
German call sign:	DL0ISS

RZ3DZR is also the callsign entered into the TNC currently onboard Alpha.

More information about the project can be found on the ARISS web site
at http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov.

[ANS thanks ARISS team member Will Marchant, KC6ROL, for this
information]

RADIO SPORT RS-13
Uplink			21.260 to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 		145.860 to 145.900 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 		145.860 MHz
Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher
Status: Operational, mode T

Much confusion concerning the status of RS-12 and RS-13.

Kevin, AC5DK, and Jerry, K5OE, have provide the following information
in order to clarify the current situation:

RS-12: recently both 2 and 10-meter beacons have been on (intermittent
10-meter beacon).

RS-13: in mode T (not mode KT). The 2-meter beacon is on (145.860 +/-)
and the mode-T robot is on and working/replying. (The uplink/downlink
frequencies shown above are accurate --ANS).

The latest information on RS-12 and RS-13 can be found on the
AC5DK RS-12/13 Satellite Operators page at:

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

[ANS thanks Kevin Manzer, AC5DK, for this information]

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)
Launched: December 26, 1994 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Status: 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 web site. In addition to satellite data, antenna information for
mode-A operation is also featured. The WB6LLO web site URL is:

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

[ANS thanks Dave Guimont, WB6LLO, for this information]

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)
Launched: June 16, 1983 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Semi-operational, mode-B. AO-10 has been locked into a
70-cm uplink and a 2-meter downlink for several years

DX continues to be worked (and heard) on AO-10. Jerry, K5OE, reports
AO-10 has been very well behaved over North America the last few weeks.
Strong signals have been heard from Europe, ZR6, VK, ZL, and JA.
VK5ZAI reports contacts with V73AT and ZL2MN. Charlie, VR2XMT,
worked EY8MM.

ANS Principal Satellite Investigator N1JEZ reports AO-10 has been
very active, "no doubt due to the excitement cause by AO-40." Mike
reports working Ed, LU7DZ, who Mike has not heard on AO-10 since
1995! Mike says Ed is back with a brand new FT-847. N1JEZ also
reports DX activity from all over Europe.

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
Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Operational, mode J

Periodically, AO-27's analog repeater will be turned off for a few days
at a time to enable ground controllers to gather Whole Orbital Data
(WOD), to verify the health of the satellite.

An AO-27 question-and-answer page is available on the AMSAT-NA
web site. The URL is: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/intro/ao27faq.html.

AO-27 uses a method called Timed Eclipse Power Regulation (TEPR)
to regulate the on-board batteries. In simple terms, TEPR times how
long the satellite has been in an eclipse (or in the sun) and decides
what subsystems to turn on or off. The current TEPR settings (as of
November 25, 2000) are:

TEPR 4   18	TEPR 5   36

The AO-27 pages on the AMSAT-NA web site include an
explanation of TEPR AO-27 operations (at):

http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/ao27.html

[ANS thanks AMRAD for AO-27 information]

UO-14
Uplink 		145.975 MHz FM
Downlink 	435.070 MHz FM
Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Operational, mode J

Tim, KG8OC, has updated the Michigan AMSAT Information site
to include UO-14 information -- point your web browser to the
following URL:

http://www.qsl.net/kg8oc

[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for UO-14 information]

SUNSAT SO-35
Mode J Uplink:	       	145.825 MHz FM
Mode J Downlink:	436.250 MHz FM

Mode B Uplink:		436.291 MHz FM
Mode B Downlink:	145.825 MHz FM
Launched: February 23, 1999 by a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg
Air Force Base in California
Status: Operational.

Tim, N1RZ, reports he made his first SO-35 satellite contact and
was amazed at the audio quality of the downlink.

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 in addition
to Mode B/J operation. The satellite has two VHF and two UHF
transmit-receive systems.

For more information on SunSat, including the official operating
schedule, visit the following URL:

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

A summary of the active modes and frequency allocations for
SunSat is available at the following URL:

http://esl.ee.sun.ac.za/~lochner/sunsat/modes.html

[ANS thanks Garth Milne, ZR1AFH, for this information]

JAS-1b FO-20
Uplink 		145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 	435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB
Launched: February 07, 1990 by an H1 launcher from the
Tanegashima Space Center in Japan
Status: Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously

Tak, JA2PKI, reported the FO-20 control station operators believe
that the UVC (Under Voltage Controller) now is regulating the
transponder. The UVC monitors battery voltage and tries to protect the
batteries from over discharge. Tak notes that FO-20, launched in 1990,
is now over 10 years old.

[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status reports]

JAS-2 FO-29
Launched: August 17, 1996, by an H-2 launcher from the
Tanegashima Space Center in Japan
Status: Operational

Voice/CW Mode JA
Uplink 		145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 	435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB

Digital Mode JD
Uplink 		145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM
Downlink 	435.910 MHz 1200 baud BPSK or 9600 baud FSK
Callsign		8J1JCS
Digitalker 	435.910 MHz

The JARL FO-29 command station has announced the following
operation schedule of FO-29:

through December 15    mode JA
December 16 - 24    	mode JD 1200 baud PSK
Dec. 25 - Jan. 7    	mode JA

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

Mineo, JE9PEL, has a FO-29 satellite telemetry analysis program that
will automatically analyze all digital telemetry from the satellite (such as
current, voltage and temperature). The JE9PEL FO-29/shareware is
available at the following URL:

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

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

SAUDISAT-1A
Uplink		to be released
Downlink	437.075 MHz 
Broadcast Callsign	SAUSAT1-11
BBS 			SAUSAT1-12
Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic
missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Status: Commissioning stage, initial housekeeping tasks underway

SaudiSat-1A will operate as 9600 baud digital store-and-forward
systems as well analog FM repeater mode capability. One of two
new ham satellites from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia built by the
Space Research Institute at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and
Technology.

SAUDISAT-1B
Uplink		to be released
Downlink	436.775 MHz
Broadcast Callsign	SAUSAT2-11
BBS			SAUSAT2-12
Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic
missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Status: Commissioning stage, initial housekeeping tasks underway

SaudiSat-1B will operate as 9600 baud digital store-and-forward
systems as well analog FM repeater mode capability. One of two
new ham satellites from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia built by the
Space Research Institute at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and
Technology.

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 345.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 10, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-345.06

TIUNGSAT-1
Uplink		145.850  or 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
Downlink	437.325 MHz
Broadcast callsign	MYSAT3-11
BBS			MYSAT3-12
Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic
missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Status: Operational, 38k4 baud FSK

Chris, G7UPN, tells ANS that recently, TiungSat-1 has been operating
at a data rate of 38k4. Data recovery at 38k4 is reported to be extremely
good with efficiencies near 100%. The output power is at 8-watts "which
should provide a very good downlink," said Chris, adding "the downside
is that with the high power transmitter operating, the power budget is
negative so we can't support continuous operation."

According to G7UPN, TiungSat-1 now requires the Amateur Radio station
to switch the downlink 'on' when the satellite comes into range. The way
this works is for the ground station software to send a request to the
spacecraft to switch the downlink on. The spacecraft receives this request
and checks the battery voltage to see if it can support the operation, and
if
it can it will activate the downlink.

CT1EAT reports that "after tracking TiungSat-1 all I can say is this bird is
amazing! A few seconds after AOS the efficiency reach 100% and kept
that value until LOS! Thank you for the privilege to use a satellite like
this!"

TiungSat-1 is Malaysia's first micro-satellite and in addition to
commercial land and weather imaging payloads offers FM and FSK
Amateur Radio communication.

TiungSat-1, named after the mynah bird of Malaysia, was developed as
a collaborative effort between the Malaysian government and Surrey
Satellite Technology Ltd.

For more information on TiungSat-1, visit the following URL:

http://www.yellowpages.com.my/tiungsat/tiung_main.htm

[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for this information]

KITSAT KO-25
Uplink 		145.980 MHz FM (9600 baud FSK)
Downlink 	436.500 MHz FM
Broadcast Callsign	HL02-11
BBS 			HL02-12
Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Operational

Jim, AA7KC, reports nominal KO-25 operation with moderate traffic.

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

UOSAT UO-22
Uplink 		145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 	435.120 MHz FM
Broadcast Callsign	UOSAT5-11
BBS			UOSAT5-12
Launched: July 17, 1991 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Operational

Jim, AA7KC, reports nominal UO-22 operation with heavy traffic and
continuing major sat-gate operation which makes this bird useful tool
for the global Amateur Radio community.

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

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

[ANS thanks 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
Launched: March 1, 1984 by a Delta-Thor rocket from Vandenberg
Air Force Base in California
Status: Operational

OSCAR-11 celebrated its sixteenth birthday in space on March 1, 2000.

During the period through November 14, 2000 good signals have been
received from the 145 MHz beacon as the satellite is currently seeing
good solar conditions which should continue until the end of the year.
Ground control stations have reset the magnetorquer counters, the spin
period has varied between 217 and 276 seconds. The battery voltage
observed during daylight passes is unchanged with an average value of
14.0, with a range of 13.9 to 14.1 volts. Internal temperatures have
increased slightly and are probably near maximum value. They are now
6.6 	C and 4.8 C for battery and telemetry electronics. A single WOD
survey of dated 06-October-2000, has been transmitted. The mode-S
beacon is transmitting an unmodulated carrier. The beacon is a useful
test source for mode-S converters. The 435.025 MHz beacon is normally
off but can sometimes be heard when the satellite is being commanded
by ground control.

The operating schedule is as follows:

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 active 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]

LUSAT LO-19
Uplink 		 	145.84 145.86 145.88 145.90 MHz FM
				(using 1200 baud Manchester FSK)
CW downlink 	 	437.125 MHz
Digital downlink  	437.150 MHz SSB (RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK)
Broadcast Callsign	LUSAT-11
BBS 			LUSAT-12
Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Semi-operational. The CW beacon is sending eight telemetry
channels and one status channel on 437.136 MHz. No BBS service is
available. The digipeater is not active.

Telemetry (limited) is as follows:

Sat Nov 18 at 11:41:24 2000
LUSAT HIHI 60 AUN ABB AVA ADU AU4 A6E A44 AE6

Mineo, JE9PEL, has recorded LO-19 CW and PSK telemetry and
placed the information on his Internet homepage site at:

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

General information and telemetry samples can be found at:

www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu

[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for LO-19 status information]

PACSAT AO-16
Uplink 			145.90 145.92 145.94 145.96 MHz FM
				(using 1200 baud Manchester FSK)
Downlink		437.025 MHz SSB (RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK)
Mode-S Beacon   	2401.1428 MHz
Broadcast Callsign:	PACSAT-11
BBS 			PACSAT-12
Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Semi-operational

Russ, WJ9F, reported the S-band transmitter is off. The VHF uplink
and the UHF PSK transmitter are operational (TX power at 1.5 watts).
The digipeater command is on.

Telemetry is as follows:

1530 UTC 09 December 2000
WOD Dump of Array current Channels 26, 27, 28, 29, 2A, 2B
Will Dump data for 24 hours.  AO-16 Command Team <WJ9F>

uptime is 301/08:06:57.  Time is Sun Dec 10 11:41:44 2000
+X (RX) Temp     4.839 D  	RX Temp          1.209 D
BCR Load Cur     0.405 A  	BCR Input Cur    0.332 A
BCR Output Cur   0.321 A  	Bat 1 Temp       5.444 D
Bat 2 Temp       5.444 D  	Baseplt Temp     6.049 D
PSK TX RF Out    1.730 W  	RC PSK BP Temp  -0.002 D
RC PSK HPA Tmp  -0.002 D  	+Y Array Temp    0.603 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp   1.814 D  	+Z Array Temp   13.916 D
Total Array C= 0.288 Bat Ch Cur=-0.084 Ifb= 0.044 I+10V= 0.361
TX:1009 BCR:80 PWRC:06D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:CD

A new WOD collection of current graphics along with general
information and telemetry samples can be found at:

www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu

[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for AO-16 status information]

TMSAT-1 TO-31
Uplink 		145.925 MHz (9600 baud FSK)
Downlink 	436.925 MHz (9600 baud FSK)
Broadcast Callsign:	TMSAT1-11
BBS 			TMSAT1-12 
Launched: July 10, 1998 by a Zenit rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Status: Operational

Jim, AA7KC, reports nominal TO-31 operation, with moderate traffic and
continuing new images.

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

Many of the high-resolution color images transmitted by TMSAT are
compressed using a UoSAT compression format. This format is
supported by the VK5HI CCD display program.

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

UoSAT-12 UO-36
Uplink 		145.960 MHz (9600 baud FSK)
Downlink 	437.025 MHz 437.400 MHz
Broadcast Callsign	UOSAT12-11
BBS 			UOSAT12-12
Launched: April 21, 1999 by a Russian launcher from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome
Status: Operational

UO-36 carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward
communications and mode L/S transponders.

NASA has demonstrated on UO-36 the ability to use standard Internet
protocols to communicate with an orbiting spacecraft (just like any node
on the Internet). NASA has been developing this project by working with
the commercial payload aboard UoSAT-12.

The BBS is open, although uploading and downloading may be
disabled at times.

The VK5HI viewer shareware for UO-36 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
Broadcast Callsign	ITMSAT1-11
BBS 			ITMSAT1-12
Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Semi-operational, the digipeater function is on and open for
APRS users

[ANS thanks ITAMSAT Project Manager Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD, for
IO-26 information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 345.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 10, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-345.07

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

KITSAT KO-23
Uplink 		145.900 MHz FM (9600 baud FSK)
Downlink 	435.170 MHz FM
Broadcast Callsign	HLO1-11
BBS 			HLO1-12
Launched: August 10, 1992 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Intermittent operation with the downlink transmitter operating at
unpredictable intervals

Jim, AA7KC, reports that KO-23's downlink transmitter continues
in non-operational status. Jim says that KO-23 shows some signs
of trying to recover, but no useful data has been downlinked. The
duration of this status is unpredictable.

KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, reports (from the KO-23 control team) that part
of the problem with non-operation has been the power budget aboard
the satellite. "We are not sure when the bird might turn off again due to
insufficient power. The capability of the onboard power system has been
less and less," said Kim. HL0ENJ also noted that as of October 30, 2000
the onboard computer was reset and a reboot of operational software is
now underway.

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

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
Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher
Status: unconfirmed

ANS has received reports from several stations that the
29.408 MHz RS-12 beacon has been heard. The beacon telemetry
indicated that both the 10 and 2-meter receivers aboard RS-12 are
currently off. 

Jerry, K5OE, reports both the 2 and 10-meter beacons have been
heard at his QTH, (although the 10-meter beacon has been
intermittent).

[ANS thanks K5OE and AC5DK for this information]

TECHSAT-1B GO-32
Downlink 	435.225 MHz using HDLC telemetry
Launched: July 10, 1998 by a Russian Zenit rocket from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome
Status: Semi-operational

Efforts were reported to be underway to bring GO-32 on line,
however, no information has been received by ANS (the last
report was dated November 1999).

Last reported, the satellite does transmit a 9600-baud burst every
30 seconds (the GO-32 beacon sends one short telemetry status
transmission of 44 bytes) and upon request the complete
telemetry buffer. 

[ANS has no further information]

PANSAT PO-34
Uplink/downlink frequencies have never been released
Launched: October 30, 1998 by the Shuttle Discovery
Status: Unknown

The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions.

PanSat was developed by the Naval Postgraduate School. At the time of
launch, PanSat spread-spectrum digital transponders were promised to
be available to Amateur Radio operators along with software to utilize
this technology. To date, this has not happened.

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

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

PanSat was the featured cover article on the July/August 1999 issue
of the AMSAT-NA Journal (the story written by KD6DRA and N7HPR).

[ANS has no further information]

MIR SPACE STATION
145.985 MHz (FM) voice and SSTV (Robot 36 Mode)
Launched: February 18, 1986
Status: Unmanned

Currently, there is no human habitation aboard the station and the
onboard Amateur Radio equipment has been turned off. Several
news agencies have reported that Mir in now on 'autopilot'.

Several news agencies are reporting the Mir space station will be ditched
this coming February in a controlled descent that will send it hurtling into
a remote area of the Pacific Ocean.

Stay tuned to ANS for further details.

MIR SAFEX II 70-cm Repeater
Uplink 		435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone of 141.3 Hz
Downlink 	437.950 MHz FM
Status: Not operational. No operation in 1999 or 2000 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
Status: Not operational. No operation in 1999 or 2000 has been observed

[ANS has no further information]

DOVE DO-17
Downlink 	145.825 MHz FM (1200 baud AFSK)
		2401.220 MHz
Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: 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.

[ANS has no further information]

WEBERSAT WO-18
Downlink 	437.104 MHz SSB (1200 baud PSK AX.25)
Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Non-operational

WO-18 was last reported to be in MBL mode after a software crash.

[ANS has no further information]

SEDSAT-1 SO-33
Downlink 	437.910 MHz FM (9600 baud FSK)
Launched: October 24, 1998 by a Delta 2 rocket from Cape
Canaveral, Florida
Status: Semi-operational

The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions and
the image and transponder recovery efforts have been unsuccessful.

SedSat-1 signifies Students for the Exploration and Development of
Space (satellite number one).

SedSat-1 has downlinked months worth of telemetry data on the
performance of its electrical power system parameters. The Nickel
Metal Hydride batteries on the spacecraft were experimental and
experienced some abuse due to a power negative situation. This
information has provided NASA with useful information. With the
exception of the imaging system and the use of the transponders,
SedSat-1 has been judged a success.

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

http://seds.uah.edu/projects/sedsat/sedsat.htm

[ANS has no further information]

/EX

--ANS END---

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

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


----
Via the ans mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe ans" to Majordomo@amsat.org