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[jamsat-news:1424] ANS 021
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 021
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 eastern U.S. at 19:00 UTC and to the western
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 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 W. Scudder Georgia,
KD3P, of Bethesda, Maryland, who died recently at age 86. An Amateur
Radio operator since his teens, KD3P was a covert communications
officer during World War II and received the Medal of Freedom (our
nation's highest civilian honor) for his wartime service. [ANS thanks 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-021.01
PHASE 3D/AO-40 UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 021.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 21, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-021.01
The month of January continues with command stations working in
their on-going recovery efforts of AMSAT OSCAR 40. The command
team has determined the following:
* The V-band, U-band and the L-band (L1) receivers are working on the
the high-gain antennas. The omni-directional antennas appear to be
non-functional. The command team's conclusion is that damage has been
sustained to the omni-directional antennas, antenna cables or antenna
relays (or possibly all three).
* An attempt to command the V-band transmitter on the high-gain
antennas has been done several times with no downlink signals
detected. Telemetry may be indicating the transmitter is working, but
with the current position of the satellite, V-band signals may not be
receivable due to the assumption that the high-gain antennas may be
pointing into space and not at Earth. Further tests will be conducted.
* No recent tests have been conducted on the U-band transmitter,
but tests are planned once the current spin rate is reduced and the
command team can confirm the heat pipes are working.
* The attitude control system is fully functional. Currently, a high spin
rate (of about 17rpm) and an extreme sun angle (about 60 degrees)
does not allow the sun sensor to provide accurate information. This
explains why the indicated spin rate (via telemetry) is inaccurate.
Without sun and attitude information the command team has suspended
magnetorquing efforts, thus no further attitude or spin change has been
attempted recently. Project leader DJ4ZC is developing a software
algorithm which does not use sun sensor information. This software
program will be tested and then used to try and reduce the spin rate
and move the spacecraft to a better attitude.
In summary, once the sun angle and antenna pointing is improved,
both the V-band and U-band transmitter tests can resume, along with
suitable experiments of the ATOS (arc-jet) thruster and the momentum
wheels.
ALON/ALAT is currently 248/-7, as listed on the AMSAT-DL web page.
Several stations, including AO-40 command station G3RUH have
measured the frequency of the S-2 transmitter middle beacon as
2401.323 MHz. The beacon can be heard before perigee (between
MA 245 and 256). Due to extremely high doppler shift coupled with
spin wobbling and fading, error-free telemetry reception will be
difficult.
Moe Wheatley, AE4JY, has released an updated of his AO40RCV
soundcard-demodulator. Data export and AFC have been improved,
recorded sound files can be used and triggering up/down keys of
(most common) transceivers for automatic doppler correction has
been implemented. More information on AO40RCV is available at:
www.qsl.net/ae4jy
The current AO-40 orbital element set number 28:
Satellite: AO-40
Catalog number: 26609
Epoch time: 01018.53756618
Inclination: 5.9258 degrees
RA of node: 230.0726 degrees
Eccentricity: 0.8133560
Arg of perigee: 208.4998 degrees
Mean anomaly: 11.7742 degrees
Mean motion: 1.26922670 rev/day
Decay rate: -1.63e-06 rev/day^2
Epoch rev: 99
Checksum: 299
[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-NA for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-021.02
DJ4ZC NAMED MARBURGER OF THE YEAR
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 021.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 21, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-021.02
AMSAT-DL President and AO-40 project leader Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC,
was recently named 'Marburger of the Year 2000' by readers of the
Oberhessische Press, a daily newspaper published in Karl's hometown
Marburg, Germany.
Nine Marburg residents were nominated.
The AMSAT-DL President's chief involvement in the development of
AMSAT OSCAR 40 was mentioned in the honor. "This honor isn't only
my merit," said Karl, "it also belongs as well to my colleagues all over
the world and the many who are involved in the AO-40 project."
Speaking on behalf of the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors, Officers and
members of AMSAT-North America, AMSAT-NA President Robin
Haighton, VE3FRH, told ANS:
I congratulate Karl on being voted as the 'Marburger of the Year 2000'.
His outstanding technical expertise and hard work in leading the P3D
team, I am sure, contributed toward this award. However, I am equally
sure that Karl's work in his hometown and with the University of Marburg
surely played a significant role in this achievement.
Karl, your friends on this side of the Atlantic salute you and your award
and wish you and your family continued success in 2001.
73,
Robin Haighton, VE3FRH
President AMSAT-NA
[ Congratulations DJ4ZC - from ANS! ]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-021.03
PRESIDENTS LETTER
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 021.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 21, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-021.03
Several times each year ANS will feature information from AMSAT-NA
President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH. This feature is know as the
'President's Letter'. The following is the latest installment:
In the days of AO-13, I operated S-band with a good downconverter (with
2-meter IF). I had some outstanding results, the signal quality was Q-5 and
the signal strength was usually S-7 from a satellite putting out less than
1-watt into a unity gain antenna (and at great distance). There was no
detectable background noise and the copy was usually 100%.
Unfortunately, my downconverter suffered the ravages of weather and I
purchased another one in early December 2000. Living in Canada, we
have certain weather conditions which are not always cooperative with
putting up antennas and associated equipment. However, this last week
enough snow had melted to enable me to gain access my roof and to
install my new equipment.
The installation went well (I had prepared the cables and connectors
ahead of time) and it only took a short time to put everything in place.
Unfortunately, once I had everything working I found I had missed the
AO-40 pass for that day.
Last Wednesday morning I went to the ham shack and turned on the
converter, tuned the rig to the appropriate frequency and with the aid of
WISP found the satellite on my first try. Ah yes - the joy of receiving
AO-40 (again) and watching the telemetry come through on my computer
screen was a real pleasure. This time the signal strength was S-9 and the
quality was excellent - in spite of a poor offset angle between my antenna
and the satellite.
I note that the signal will cut off when antennas can no longer see each
other, but reasonable copy can be expected between MA-3 and MA-12
(according VP9MU). My next opportunity to be connected to AO-40 is
January 22nd, early in the morning from this QTH. You can be sure that
I will be there, collecting data for the archives and sending it to the
AO-40
archive data base (vp9mu@amsat.org).
If you are not currently listening to the S-band transmissions from AO-40,
I invite you to put some equipment together and join me!
73
Robin, VE3FRH
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, for this
information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-021.04
LATEST ISS SCHOOL CONTACT SUCCESSFUL
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 021.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 21, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-021.04
Students at the Sheldon Elementary School made a long-distance
trip into outer-space this past week by Amateur Radio - talking with
astronaut William Shepherd aboard the International Space
Station.
The students asked Shepherd several questions, including whether the
stars looked any different from outer space, what Shepherd saw passing
by the ISS windows and what he does with his spare time. One pupil
who was particularly happy to speak to Shepherd was Eliza Stringham.
She is Shepherds niece.
During the time the pupils were speaking to Shepherd, the space station
traveled over western Canada toward the Atlantic Ocean near South
Africa.
Amateur Radio equipment on the International Space Station is a project
of ARISS, and is made up of delegates from major national Amateur
Radio organizations, including AMSAT.
More information about the project can be found on the ARISS web site
at http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov.
[ANS thanks ARISS for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-021.05
ANS IN BRIEF
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 021.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 21, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-021.05
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** As it completes the first of three 'laps' (of about a billion miles each)
around the heart of the Solar system, the Stardust spacecraft is getting
ready for a 'pit stop' of sorts, flying by Earth for a gravitational speed
boost. The added energy will put Stardust on course to meet comet
Wild-2 in January of 2004. In addition, the University of Arkansas is
putting together a team of scientists to take asteroid research to the
next level. -SpaceDaily
** AMSAT-NA's W2RS reminds ANS readers that 'best fist' nominations
from AMSAT-NA's latest SKN on OSCAR are needed! If you haven't
nominated someone, please do so in a reply to w2rs@amsat.org. Results
will be published in ANS and The AMSAT Journal in early February.
-Ray, W2RS
** The launch of space shuttle Atlantis has been delayed to allow for
additional booster inspections. NASA made the decision recently, with
the launch of the space station laboratory, Destiny, now targeted for
early February. NASA wants more time to inspect electrical cables that
connect the shuttle with its two solid-fuel rocket boosters. During the
last shuttle launch, an explosive device failed to work during the
climb to orbit because of a bad electrical connector. A backup charge
was needed to separate the left booster two minutes into the flight.
-Roy, K6DUE
** To help the international rescue teams that have rushed to El Salvador,
the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters was activated.
A satellite constellation was re-tasked in emergency mode, including
ESA's ERS-2 radar satellite, the Canadian Space Agency's Radarsat-1
satellite and the French space agency's SPOT birds. The combination of
these satellite resources is providing emergency rescue groups with
imagery captured day and night and in all weather conditions - to help
aid recovery efforts. -ESA
** AMSAT-NA currently has two financial challenges: W1BFN will match
(up to $1,000) all new and lapsed memberships for the month of January,
and W8GSM will match (up to $1,000) all donations made in January and
February. Show your support and help AMSAT meet these challenges!
-AMSAT-NA's Martha S.
** ESA, the European Space Agency, will sit down in March to consider
the possibility of Russian Soyuz rockets being launched from the Kourou
launch site in French Guiana. -SpaceDaily
** The mailing lists and mail alias forwarding services on AMSAT.ORG
were disrupted recently. The hardware that runs the service was
upgraded, and there were a few configuration issues to work out before
things started running smoothly again. All email services, web pages and
FTP downloads should now be working again. The new system is faster
and has a lot more free disk space. This will allow heavy traffic to be
handled without difficulty and will allow several enhanced services to be
phased in over the next few months. The new hardware was purchased
using AMSAT-NA general funds (AMSAT membership helps support
these services! -NN0DJ). -Paul, KB5MU
** A new glitch with Mir as a delayed launch of a cargo rocket to guide
the station back to Earth is being reported. The launch of the Progress
M1-5 rocket had been scheduled this past week, but a computer problem
ended the launch. A mission control official said the fault behind the delay
was fixed, but no new launch date was set. It's too soon to say if Mir
de-orbit date will change. If necessary, a Russian crew is ready to take off
to guide the station out of orbit manually. -Roy, K6DUE
** Australian stations have special prefix available as January ends.
On January 25 and 26th, Australian stations may use the prefix AX
to mark Australia Day. This year marks Australia's 100th anniversary.
-ARRL
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-021.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 021.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 21, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-021.06
Phase 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 / AO-40
Launched: November 16, 2000 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher
from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: S-Band transmitter is
active, recovery efforts continue.
The V-band, U-band and the L-band (L1) receivers are working on the
the high-gain antennas. The omni-directional antennas appear to be
non-functional. The attitude control system is functional. Recovery
efforts continue.
[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-1 is the callsign entered into the TNC currently onboard Alpha,
operation is expected shortly.
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-12
Uplink 145.913 to 145.953 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.413 to 29.453 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 29.408 MHz
Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher
Status: RS-12 was re-activated in mode A on January 1, 2001
ANS editor NN0DJ recently made several contacts through RS-12
using an indoor VHF J-pole on the uplink and a short (indoor) wire
antenna to his downlink receiver. Dan is currently re-building his ham
shack wanted to see if a minimal setup would work. "RS-12 has an
outstanding downlink signal," said NN0DJ.
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 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. John, K6YK, reports
recent activity with LU6KK, LU8MB, 9Y4AT, CT1DIN, GW1MNC, ON5NY,
F2SY, PT9KK, F4AKA, PY3BZM, LW4DIR, 7M4DUI, EA7ERP, PY2FUS,
4F2KWT and others!
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
Happy birthday UO-14, now 11 years old!
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: Non-operational Amateur Radio
service (although Amateur operation was reported noted the weekend
of January 13th)
The SunSat web page currently contains the following:
The orientation changes needed in order to resume imaging activities
have been hampered by ground station problems. Due to the additional
operational effort required, Amateur Radio services have been
suspended until further notice.
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 January 31st - 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]
SO-41 SAUDISAT-1A
Uplink to be released
Downlink 437.075 MHz
Broadcast Callsign SASAT1-11
BBS SASAT1-12
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.
SO-42 SAUDISAT-1B
Uplink to be released
Downlink 436.775 MHz
Broadcast Callsign SASAT2-11
BBS SASAT2-12
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-021.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 021.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 21, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-021.07
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 at
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.
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 KO-25 operational 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 UO-22 operational with heavy individual and
Satgate traffic.
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 of 16-December 2000 to 16-January, 2001 good
signals have been received from the 145 MHz beacon. OSCAR-11 users
should note that the year displayed in the ASCII status blocks is incorrect.
There is currently a similar error of one year in the date of the latest WOD
survey. Ground control should be able to correct these errors shortly
Battery voltage observed during daylight passes is unchanged. The
average value observed was 14.0, with a range of 13.7 to 14.1 volts.
Internal temperatures have continued to decrease by one degree as the
eclipse periods lengthen. They are now 5.02 and 3.2 C for battery and
telemetry electronics respectively.
The spin period has varied between 256 and 311 seconds. Two positive
magnetorquer correction pulses and zero negative pulses have been
counted, while there have been 324 Z-axis correction pulses.
S-band reception reports have been received recently from K5OE,
PE5YES and W9JIU.
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.
Happy birthday LO-19, now 11 years old!
Telemetry (limited) is as follows:
Sat Dec 30 at 23:25 2000 UTC
LUSAT HIHI 60 AVT ABV AA6 ADB ATB AB4 TTU AEE
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, the digipeater command is
on.
Happy birthday AO-16, now 11 years old!
Russ, WJ9F, reported he has been doing some WOD (Whole Orbit
Data) collections recently and has had the S-band transmitter on during
some passes. Russ has a software update planned that may allow
(hopefully) continuous S-band operation.
Telemetry is as follows:
uptime is 343/07:01:18. Time is Sun Jan 21 10:36:59 2001
+X (RX) Temp -6.658 D RX Temp 4.839 D
BCR Set Point 120.111 C BCR Load Cur 0.428 A
BCR Input Cur 0.410 A BCR Output Cur 0.351 A
Bat 1 Temp 7.260 D Bat 2 Temp 7.865 D
Baseplt Temp 7.865 D PSK TX RF Out 1.805 W
RC PSK BP Temp -0.002 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 0.603 D
+Y Array Temp 4.839 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 3.024 D
+Z Array Temp -7.868 D
Total Array C= 0.399 Bat Ch Cur=-0.077 Ifb= 0.011 I+10V= 0.417
TX:1009 BCR:7A PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:91
Beacon text: AO-16 S-Band Tx testing to begin shortly
Pacsat owned and operated by AMSAT-NA
AO-16 Command Team <WJ9F>
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: Non-operational, no data downlinked since
December 18, 2000.
Chris G7UPN, (UoSAT operations manager) reports the following
to ANS:
The TO-31 downlink will be off over most areas, with the exception of
Europe and Thailand. This is required to allow control stations to
recondition the battery with minimum power drain.
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 UO121-11
BBS UO121-12
Launched: April 21, 1999 by a Russian launcher from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome. Status: Semi-operational
Chris, G7UPN, reports to ANS that UO-36 may not be available at
times due to the satellite currently in continual sunlight. Chris reports
this
generates considerable heat and command teams try and keep the
transmitter off do avoid generating additional heat.
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 ITMSAT-11
BBS ITMSAT-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-021.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 021.08 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 21, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-021.08
THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL
AT THIS TIME:
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: non-operational (last operational in mode-T)
RS-12 was apparently re-activated recently. Prior to this switch RS-13
was operational (mode T), but was apparently turned off following
the recent RS-12 switch.
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]
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. No data has been received
since October 28, 2000.
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]
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
in a controlled descent that will send it hurtling into a remote area of the
Pacific Ocean on March 6, 2001.
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 has been in orbit for 11 years.
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 has been in orbit for 11 years.
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
----
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