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[jamsat-news:1446] ANS 070
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 070
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 Carter,
KC6WYX, of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, who died recently
at 71. Carter served as executive officer of the World War II Tank
Landing Ship LST-325, which recently completed a 4,200-mile
journey from the Greek island of Crete to Mobile, Alabama. Carter
had ham gear aboard and used the WW2LST. A memorial service
for Carter was held -- with burial at sea. [ANS thanks the ARRL for
this information]
ANS is always dedicated to the memory of past ANS editor 'BJ' Arts,
WTØÎ, and to the memory of long-time AMSAT supporter Werner
Haas, DJ5KQ.
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070.01
PHASE 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 070.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 11, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-070.01
The good news about AMSAT OSCAR 40 continues with this edition
of ANS. The League is reporting the following in the current ARRL Letter:
Initial efforts to slow AO-40's spin rate have met with success. Peter
Guelzow, DB2OS, of AMSAT-DL and the AO-40 team says
magnetorqueing has been able to decrease AO-40's initial spin rate from
almost 18 revolutions-per-minute.
The onboard magnetorqueing system (consisting of solenoid coils) uses
the Earth's magnetic field to control the spacecraft's spin and orientation.
Guelzow said that as soon as the spin is favorable, AO-40's attitude will
be adjusted to improve communication with Earth. The onboard YACE
camera was used to take some photographs "for a quick attitude
determination," but he said the highly compressed digital photos were
inconclusive. More pictures are planned once the spin rate is reduced.
(end)
The AMSAT-DL web site is reporting the following:
The spin rate is falling nicely. James Miller, G3RUH, provided the
following information:
Expected Measured
Orbit RPM SA RPM SA
157 16.93 38 16.73 38
158 16.18 37 15.87 37
159 15.43 36 15.20 35
160 14.70 35 14.66 34
161 13.95 34 13.91 33
162 13.22 33 12.99 32
163 12.50 33 12.11 30
164 11.80 31 11.36 28
165 11.11 30 10.74 27
166 10.41 29 9.82 25
The rate of reduction is -0.74 revolutions per perigee pass. In theory
AO-40 could be down to 5-rpm in 11 orbits, or 8 days. In addition,
the eclipse period is starting later (presently MA 0.5). The current
magnetorqueing effort is performing very well and will be completed
shortly. The attitude should then be approximately 206/30 and 10 rpm.
With ALAT now out of the orbit plane, we can start changing ALON
as well as controlling ALAT and further spin down.
The heat pipes appear to be functional again as the S-2 transmitter was
running about 35-37°Ã in the last couple of weeks. It's temperature is now
running at 19-20°Ã -- which means that the heat pipes are working again
after the spin rate was lowered.
None of this analysis would be possible without the outstanding telemetry
collation efforts of Paul, VP9MU, along with the efforts of a largely
anonymous group of Amateur Radio satellite ground stations.
Thank you and 73!
Peter, DB2OS
<<...OLE_Obj...>>
AO-40's orbital parameters (number 46) are as follows:
Satellite: AO-40
Catalog number: 26609
Epoch time: 01063.46839262
Inclination: 5.4896 deg
RA of node: 217.4466 deg
Eccentricity: 0.8135323
Arg of perigee: 230.0708 deg
Mean anomaly: 25.1699 deg
Mean motion: 1.26955273 rev/day
Decay rate: 4.0e-07 rev/day^2
Epoch rev: 157
Checksum: 294
Stay tuned to AMSAT News Service, the official source of AO-40
news and information.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-NA for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070.02
AMSAT-NA MEMBERSHIP REACTION
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 070.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 11, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-070.02
As ANS announced last week, the Board of Directors of AMSAT-NA met
recently to consider a number of items, specifically the format and nature
of the next AMSAT satellite project(s).
The approved projects included a new satellite to be placed into a
geostationary transfer orbit, featuring communication capabilities at
2-meters, 70-cm, and 1.2, 2.4 and 5.6 GHz.
AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, told ANS that there
has been a considerable amount of discussion on AMSAT-BB following
the ANS special bulletin about the BOD meeting. VE3FRH reported that
he had lost count on the number of positive comments from the
membership who think that the decision was right, adding "although the
feedback will probably continue for some time to come, my initial
assessment is that the results of the BOD meeting are being applauded
by the membership."
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, for this
information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070.03
A NEW CREW FOR SPACE STATION ALPHA
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 070.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 11, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-070.03
The space shuttle Discovery roared off its launch this past week and
easily outpaced the rising sun as it streaked across the sky on its
way to deliver a new crew to the International Space Station. The
ISS Expedition-2 crew includes two hams, Russian cosmonaut and
Expedition-2 Commander Yuri Usachev, UA9AD, and U.S. astronaut
Susan Helms, KC7NHZ.
The shuttle weighed more than 4.5 million pounds on the launch pad,
as it was all set to deliver three humans and about 10,000 pounds of
supplies to Alpha.
Astronauts began unloading about two tons of equipment and supplies
from a new Italian-made cargo module docked to the station as this
edition of ANS was broadcast. The $150 million module, named
Leonardo for Italian master Leonardo da Vinci, is a significant
development in space station design, said NASA.
Once emptied, the module can be packed with drained batteries,
broken hardware and other debris from space station life and returned
to Earth when Discovery departs the orbiting outpost. Early Russian
and American space stations had limited capacities for receiving cargo,
essentially whatever the astronauts brought with them.
Shuttle Discovery will remain at the station until this weekend.
Expedition-1 Crew Commander William Shepherd, KD5GSL, capped
his more than four-month tour aboard the International Space Station
with a ham radio chat with students at his Arizona high school alma
mater. Shepherd spoke briefly to students at Arcadia High School in
Phoenix as the contact was fit into the schedule at the request of
KD5GSL.
The ARISS program contact was the last for Shepherd and the
current ISS crew.
[ANS thanks the ARRL and ARISS for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070.04
AMAST RECEIVES DONATION
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 070.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 11, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-070.04
AMSAT-DL is pleased to report that it received a donation of
4,500,000 yen (approximately $38,000 ) for the P3-D Project. The
donation was funded by JAMSAT, the Japan Amateur Satellite
Corporation.
AMSAT-DL expressed gratitude for the substantial contribution
toward the ongoing activities of AO-40.
In a letter to JAMSAT's President Tak Okamoto, JA2PKI,
AMSAT-DL President and P3-D Project Leader, Dr. Karl Meinzer,
DJ4ZC, wrote:
"As you know, we had to suffer long delays before we finally could
secure the launch, and as a consequence, we had to stretch our
resources far and thin to get to this point. Now with JAMSAT's
substantial help our situation has improved. Among other things, it
will help us to speed up the commissioning of AO-40 including the
valuable contribution of JAMSAT's onboard SCOPE cameras.
Please convey our thanks to all the people at JAMSAT who
contributed with this assistance and let them know that we
appreciate their friendship and support."
JAMSAT and AMSAT-DL hope that this will accelerate other fund
raising efforts to support ongoing AO-40 activities and future
projects!
[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL Vice President Peter Guelzow, DB2OS,
for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070.05
ANS IN BRIEF
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 070.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 11, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-070.05
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** With the Russian space station Mir coming down to Earth soon, the
Russian Space Agency has gone shopping for an insurance policy to
cover any damage to third parties. According to a Itar-Tass report,
RSA is now going through the necessary formalities to obtain coverage.
Mir could also be given a few days of additional reprieve from its planned
demise -- with its downing put off to March 18 or 20th. -SpaceDaily
** AMSAT-NA's would like to thank all those who donated funds
both in January and February. Our organization met the goal of
$1,000 and will now receive an additional $1,000 from a very
generous AMSAT Life Member. -Martha Saragovitz
** Qualification test firings of the unique engines designed to propel
America's X-33 space plane into high-speed, sub-orbital flight in 2003
began recently at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center. The ignition
test went the full scheduled duration with no observed anomalies.
-SpaceDaily
** The code-free Technician ticket in now ten years old. For the first
time, starting in February 1991, applicants could obtain an Amateur
Radio license in the U.S. without taking a Morse code examination.
The Technician license has proved popular over the years, and
Technician and Tech Plus licensees far outnumber other license
classes today. -ARRL
** Almost 40 years ago the world was rocked when the era of manned
space flight began as Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was launched into space
onboard the Vostok-1 spacecraft by the (former) Soviet Union. The
actual anniversary is April 12th. -Robert, G8ATE
** Inspired by biological systems in which damage triggers an autonomic
healing response, researchers at the University of Illinois have
developed a synthetic material that can heal itself when cracked or
broken. -SpaceDaily
** N1JEZ reports that there has been a change to the CQ Worked All
Zones (WAZ) award for satellite. The new minimum entry level is now
25 zones, with endorsement stickers for 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40
zones. Details are in the March 2001 CQ magazine. -Mike, N1JEZ
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-070.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 070.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 11, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-070.06
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.
[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
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 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, features UO-14 information on the Michigan AMSAT
web site -- 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-070.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 070.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 11, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-070.07
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 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-070.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 070.08 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 11, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-070.08
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: NNØÄJ
Grid Square EN28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
E-mail: nn0dj@amsat.org
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