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[jamsat-news:1442] ANS 063


AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 063

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 developments
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 Jack McLeland,
W9ATK, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin who died recently at 63. McLeland
was active in Milwaukee County ARES for 40 years and pioneered ARES
in that area by putting the first 2-meter FM repeater in Wisconsin on the
air. W9ATK also held office in Navy-Marine Corps MARS, and engineered
and oversaw the installation and operation of a linked repeater system.
He also was a regular member of the Great Circus Train communications
team each July. [ANS thanks the ARRL for this information]

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

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.01
PHASE 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 UPDATE

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 063.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-056.01

The month of March begins with good news about AMSAT
OSCAR 40. 

The ARRL is reporting the following in the current ARRL Letter:

The sun began triggering AO-40's sun sensor as the satellite
emerged from Earth's shadow on orbit 147. The news has boosted
ground controllers' optimism that they might be able to regain control
over the satellite's spin rate and attitude sooner than had been predicted.

AMSAT-DL's Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, said this past week that as soon as
the sensor unit delivers good sensor data, controllers will be able to
reduce AO-40's spin and make it easier to adjust attitude. "This also will
lead to an improvement in reception of the S-Band telemetry," he said.

For the past few weeks, AO-40 has remained in a semi-hibernation state,
because the satellite's high angle has prevented the sensor from seeing
sunlight.  Controllers had planned to work around the sensor issue by
using a software routine.

Once ground controllers can get accurate AO-40 attitude data, they
should be able to correctly aim AO-40's high-gain antennas for optimal
reception on Earth. Ground controllers have been relying on telemetry
from AO-40's S-band downlink -- but they are holding out hope that at
least some of the satellite's other transmitters will still function. 

The next major step will be to bring AO-40 into an orientation where
ground controllers can fire the onboard arc-jet thruster -- using only
gaseous ammonia and no electrical power. The test firing will allow
checking out the guidance electronics and the arc-jet valves.

Guelzow said plans call for optimizing the current orbit with a live
arc-jet firing. He said that several independent analyses - including
one done by the French space agency, CNES -- confirm that the
current orbit will be stable for many years, longer than the
spacecraft's anticipated lifetime.

(end)

The AMSAT-DL web site is reporting the following:

Determination of AO-40's actual attitude is under progress. The YACE
camera and IHU-2 have been turned on by ground controllers in order to
receive additional attitude information when AO-40 is close to Earth
(at perigee). The first highly compressed images showing parts of the
Earth's surface have already been downloaded as this edition of ANS
is broadcast.
 <<...OLE_Obj...>> 
AO-40's orbital parameters (number 44) are as follows:

Satellite: 		AO-40
Catalog number: 	26609
Epoch time:      	01060.32118714
Inclination:        	5.5180 deg
RA of node:       	218.3353 deg
Eccentricity:    	0.8134782
Arg of perigee:   	228.5693 deg
Mean anomaly:      	26.7905 deg
Mean motion:    	1.26955381 rev/day
Decay rate:        	9.0e-08 rev/day^2
Epoch rev:             	153
Checksum:	280

When last listed, AO-40 ALON/ALAT was 226/-7.

Moe Wheatley, AE4JY, has released Version 1.0 of AO40Rcv. More
information is available at:

www.qsl.net/ae4jy/ao40rcv.htm

Stay tuned to AMSAT News Service, the official source of AO-40
news and information.

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

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.02
AMSAT-NA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 063.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-056.02

The Board of Directors of AMSAT-NA met February 24-25, 2001in
Orlando, Florida - to consider a number of items, specifically the
format and nature of the next AMSAT satellite project(s).

During the meeting it was recognized that it will be some time before
a full evaluation of AO-40 will be completed and that all of the designed
functions of that satellite may not be available. It was also recognized
that it takes several years from initial concept to launch for any new
satellite project, and that the year 2001 is the right time to start the
planning and design process for the next series of satellites.
 
Present during these discussions were several members of the
AMSAT-NA project committee, who made proposals to the Directors for
their consideration. These proposals were made based on two guiding
principles:

1) 	the input from AMSAT membership about the type of spacecraft,
       frequencies and operating requirements;

2) 	the desire of the AMSAT technical membership to keep advancing 
       the state-of-the-art and providing new solutions for improving
       satellite communications.
 
Accordingly, the Board of Directors approved the following three projects.

First, a new satellite to be placed into a geostationary transfer orbit. The
proposed satellite project would feature communications at 2-meters,
70-centimeters, 1.2, 2.4 and 5.4 GHz, with actual uplink/downlink
frequencies to be determined. The satellite would weigh a maximum of
100 Kg in mass and would have a power consumption of about 100 watts.
Stabilization would be provided by spinning the spacecraft. 

Secondly, the Directors approved the idea of designing, building and
testing a new Internal Housekeeping Unit (IHU) for use in future AMSAT
satellites. The existing design, although very stable, uses components
which are very hard to find. A new unit design would use improved
techniques and more readily available components. 

Thirdly, the Board approved design, construction and demonstration of
a new mode using digital modulation techniques. This would improve
communications under very poor conditions or, alternatively, permit the
use of lower power and/or simple antennas.

It is anticipated that both the second and third projects would be ready
to be a part of the main satellite project, with both a digital modulation
system along with traditional SSB/CW modulation techniques.

The Board of Directors also approved (in principle) a draft report from
the AMSAT strategy committee, with a full report to follow at a later date.
Finally, discussion took place on a proposed new development program
which will be initiated during 2001 and aimed toward the involvement of
AMSAT corporate sponsors.

Stay tuned to ANS for more information on these exciting projects!

[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, for this
information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.03
A NEW CREW FOR SPACE STATION ALPHA

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 063.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-056.03

The ARRL is reporting that it's almost time for a crew change aboard ISS
Alpha, and two hams are among the new crew members. Relieving the
current ISS crew will be the Expedition-2 crew of Commander Yuri
Usachev, UA9AD/R3MIR, and astronauts Susan Helms, KC7NHZ, and
Jim Voss. 

The new crew is scheduled to head to the station on March 8th aboard
space shuttle Discovery.

The current Space Station Alpha Commander, astronaut William
Shepherd, KD5GSL, recently completed another successful school
contact, this time with the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Five high
school students from Hawaii and one from American Samoa got a chance
to talk with Shepard aboard Alpha. The six-minute contact took place
March 1st as part of the Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station program.

[ANS thanks the ARRL and ARISS for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.04
ANS IN BRIEF

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 056.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-063.04

ANS news in brief this week includes the following:

** The JW9PJA DXpedition to Svalbard will take place March 9-12, 2001.
Satellite contacts are planned as well as HF operation from 1.8 to 30 MHz.
Operational callsigns will include JW9PJA, JW/LC3SAT and JW/LC5VAT.
-Mike, N1JEZ

** The ARRL is urging the FCC to retain the 219-220 MHz shared
Amateur Radio allocation and says it wants the Commission to make
it a bit easier for hams to use the segment. In comments filed in early
February with the FCC, the ARRL said it believes the 219-220 MHz
band "must be maintained and enhanced." -ARRL Letter

** A leading Chinese rocket expert has proposed a new rocket
launching center in southern China's coastal regions that would provide
a better safety environment and higher carrying capability compared to
existing Chinese sites. -SpaceDaily

** Russia has successfully launched a spacecraft carrying supplies for
the International Space Station. Russian space officials say the Progress
M-44 cargo ship blasted off recently from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in
Kazakhstan. It will deliver fuel, equipment, food and water to the station.
-7am.com News

** Ernie Manly, W7LHL, and Larry Liljequist, W7SZ, successfully
completed an EME contact recently while running only 5-watts on
1296 MHz. The antennas for the QRP contact consisted of 10 and
12-foot TVRO-type dishes. Details are available at the following URL:
http://www.proaxis.com/~boblark/dsp10.htm. -ARRL Letter

** The Satellite Industry Association has released details from a
seven-month study that shows record losses in revenue, jobs and
market share for California-based manufacturers of commercial
satellites during 2000. Stiffer U.S. export controls and increasing
competition from foreign competitors were cited as the major factors
contributing to the decline. -SpaceDaily

** NASA's Deep Space Network antennas have received their last data
from the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft, still perched on a tiny asteroid
some 200 million miles from Earth. The tiny craft - about the size of an
automobile - became the first to land on an asteroid two weeks ago,
despite having no landing gear. It had just finished a year-long orbit of
the space rock Eros when it made its improbable touch down on the
surface. -7am.com News

 --ANS BULLETIN END---

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 063.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-063.05

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.

[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-1
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
Russian callsign:	R0ISS, RZ3DZR
German call sign:	DL0ISS

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 			145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 		29.410 to 29.450 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

Recently heard on RS-12: K5OE, KO4MA, W8JOM and K0RS.

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.

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 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]

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.

[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 April 2, 2001  -  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]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 063.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-063.06

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 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 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 UO-22 is operational with heavy individual and
Sat-gate 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

During the period 16-January to 14-February 2001 good signals have
been received from the 145 MHz beacon. The battery voltage observed
during daylight passes is slightly lower. The average value observed
was 13.9 with a range of 13.7 to 14.1 volts. The internal temperatures
have slightly decreased. They are now 4.6C and 2.8C for battery and
telemetry electronics respectively.

The WOD survey of channels 10, 20, 30, 40 (+Y, -X, +X, solar array
currents, array voltage) - dated 06 January - has been transmitted.
The array voltage shows the effect of the solar eclipses. The array
voltage also shows the decrease of battery voltage during dark
periods, the constant voltage during charge, and over-voltage when
the battery is fully charged.

The spin period has varied between 280 and 315 seconds. At the start
of the reporting period the Z-axis magnetorquer counter reached 1,024.

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 437.126 MHz. No
BBS service is available. The digipeater is not active.

Telemetry (limited) is as follows:

Sat Feb 17 at 22:05 2001 UTC
LUSAT HIHI 60 AVT ABV AAB AB6 ATD ABT TTU AEE
LUSAT HIHI 60 AVT ABV AAD AD6 ATN A6N TTU AEE
LUSAT HIHI 60 AVT ABV AAN AD6 AAT A6N 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.

Russ, WJ9F, reported the 70-cm transmitter is at about 2-watts output
and WOD is being collected to watch the battery temps to see if they
stabilize to previous levels.

AO-16's S-band transmitter was powered off recently after 36 hours
of operation. Whole orbit data is being analyzed for battery
conditioning during S-band operation. AO-16 is moving into an orbit
where solar illumination density begins to decrease and thus AO-16's
power settings will change. WJ9F will try to operate the S-band
transmitter during weekends until the power budget does not allow it.

Telemetry is as follows:

Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, reports recent telemetry is an example of
a "dark orbit", as observed in the state of the batteries.

uptime is 383/18:29:47.  Time is Fri Mar 02 22:06:23 2001
+10V Bus         9.950 V  PSK TX RF Out    1.465 W
Bat 1 V          1.218 V  Bat 2 V          1.117 V
Bat 3 V          1.162 V  Bat 4 V          1.221 V
Bat 5 V          1.131 V  Bat 6 V          1.172 V
Bat 7 V          1.185 V  Bat 8 V          1.223 V
+5V Bus        4.687 V      +8.5V Bus  7.672 V
Bat 1 Temp       7.260 D  Bat 2 Temp       6.049 D

Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.410 Ifb= 0.161 I+10V= 0.267
TX:1009 BCR:1E PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:C6

Beacon text:  	Happy 11th birthday to AO-16, LO-19, UO-14.
				AO-16 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.

Jim, AA7KC, reports TO-31 non-operational over North America.

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

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-063.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 063.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-056.07

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

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: Unknown, this
satellite has been in orbit for almost six months. ANS has
received no additional information.

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: Unknown, this
satellite has been in orbit for almost six months. ANS has
received no additional information.

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.

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

The SunSat team released the following statement, dated
February 1, 2001:

We regret to announce that the last communication with SunSat from
our ground station at the Electronic Systems Laboratory at Stellenbosch
University took place recently. We are certain, after having performed
several tests since the last contact, that an irreversible, physical failure
has occurred on the satellite. It is therefore unlikely that we will have
any
further contact with SunSat, apart from the occasional visual sighting by
telescope!

When it was operational the SunSat package included 1200 and 9600
baud digital store-and-forward capability and a voice 'parrot' repeater
system in addition to Mode B/J operation with two VHF and two UHF
transmit-receive systems.

For more information on SunSat visit the following URL:

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

[ANS thanks Garth Milne, ZR1AFH, 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: non-operational (last operational in mode-T)

RS-12 was re-activated in January 2001. 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.

Jeff, KB2WQM, reported to ANS that he noticed KO-23 transmitting a
solid carrier recently (no data), Mineo, JE9PEL, also reported receiving
KO-23 carrier signals.

[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 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 in March 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 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: NN慊J
Grid Square EN28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
E-mail: nn0dj@amsat.org

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