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[jamsat-news:1479] ANS 126


AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 126

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 satellite technology will be discussed
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 broadcast journalism
pioneer, Amateur Radio writer and ARRL field volunteer - George
Thurston, W4MLE, of Tallahassee, Florida, who died recently at age
75. Thurston was editor of the first ARRL Radio Amateur's Operating
Manual, the author of QST Public Service columns and at least 10 other
QST articles from 1951 through 1994. A Virginia native and a victim of
tuberculosis as a teenager, Thurston was first licensed in 1947. He went
on to become a respected broadcast news reporter and print journalist
who covered stories of national and international interest during his
career. [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-126.01
PHASE 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 UPDATE

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-126.01

As May begins much is happening with AO-40!

First, Peter, DB2OS, reported the RUDAK system had been activated for
the first time following the December incident. Command station operator
W4SM reported the power budget stayed positive and everything looked
normal during the first test. The RUDAK team then began uploading
programming to the RUDAK CPU's.

Jim, WD0E, reported the RUDAK-A processor was commanded through
a series of tests. Commanding was quite reliable using the L-band
uplink. Some initial software was loaded and executed, the real-time
clock was set, a short text message was put in the downlink queue and
some tests to measure deviation and frequencies were completed.
RUDAK-A is now sending telemetry and a pass-through of the IHU
downlink information - on its own downlink at 2401.72 MHz. Telemetry
values look normal at first glance.

James, G3RUH, reported good copy of the RUDAK beacon, which is
about the same signal strength as the IHU middle beacon. Testing and
commissioning plans will continue.

DB2OS then broke the big news on Thursday, May 3rd - AO-40 was
going live! Here is Peter's announcement:

Dear All,

AO-40 experimental transponder operation will start on Saturday
morning, May 5th, at approximately 08:00 UTC when the U-band and
L1-band uplinks will be connected to the S-2 transmitter passband
downlink via the Matrix switch. If there are no problems, the transponder
will be usable until MA-240. It will be turned on again in the same
configuration around MA-135. Schedule changes will be announced in
the telemetry beacon.

Please note that this is experimental transponder operation and as such
the transponders may be shut off at any time without warning and the
schedule may change without prior notice. The window for transponder
operation is about 10 days, before we move to try to raise perigee using
the Arcjet.

Also, +/- 5 kHz around the Middle Beacon (MB) must be avoided. If the
beacon cannot be copied due to interference with users in the passband,
the passband may be disconnected and transponder operation stopped.

It is also planned to test the U-band and V-band transmitters again
when squint angles allow good visibility.

Needless to say, we all are very excited!

73,

Peter, DB2OS, and the AO-40 Command Team

(end)

The uplink frequencies are 435.550-435.800 MHz and 1269.250 to
1269.500 MHz. The downlink passband is 2401.225-2401.475 MHz.
The transponders are inverting, so a downward change in uplink
frequency will result in an upward frequency shift in the downlink.

ANS Principle Satellite Investigator N1JEZ was first to report contacts
on the AMSAT bulletin board. "Things are working quite well," said Mike,
"I've successfully logged a dozen contacts in the first hour of operation
including two contacts using the Mode-L uplink. I also logged my first DX
contact with IZ8EDE. The comment I heard most often was how weak
the S-band downlink was for some stations. In these situations, the
natural tendency is to increase uplink power. Without the benefit of the
Leila system, I'm sure a few of us were running too much uplink power,
but, it will take a bit of time to get a good feel for uplinks and downlinks.
My final tally was 24-contacts including some DX. A great first day! Let's
hope for many more."

Ed, K9EK, echoed Mike's comments. "Wow, AO-40 was terrific on this
first morning of transponder operation, said K9EK, "after almost 10
years, what a thrill! Heartfelt thanks to all those who have busted their
backends for so many years. You are appreciated!"

Maggie, K3XS, in all likelihood made the first YL contacts through AO-40
working KB8VAO, W5VZF, W4AD, WC0Y and N4IP. Pieter, N4IP,
reported signals at 51,000 km were about S-3 above the noise at his
QTH. Pieter worked I8CVS using the 70-cm uplink. Jerry, K5OE, told
ANS that KB8VAO and N1JEZ were among the best sounding signals.
Roger, W3SZ, reported working a number of stations including AB9V,
KK2L, VE7BBG, G3WDG, K5QXJ, W7AM and others.

AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, released the following
to ANS:

It was with great pleasure that I worked AO-40 early in the morning of
Saturday, May 5th. Signals were generally good. To satellite enthusiasts
there is nothing quite as exciting as working a new bird, especially when
we have all watched and waited as AO-40 went through it's troubles and
(now) is returning to us as a great satellite. The very hard work that
Project Leader Karl Meinzer, AMSAT-DL President Peter Guelzow and
the worldwide supporting group of command stations and technical
individuals - is providing us with a great satellite. Thank you all!

73,

Robin, VE3FRH

Robin reported working N1JEZ, WL7BQM, KB8VAO, VE3NPC, W5ACM,
W3PM, W0OQC, W4AD, W4SM, K9EK, KB2WQM, KA0YOS, W3HH,
AC9R and VE3BCG.

Stay tuned to ANS, the official source for news and information about
AMSAT OSCAR 40.

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

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126.02
AMSAT-NA PRESIDENT'S LETTER

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-126.02

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, originally
broadcast last week as ANS Special Bulletin 120.01:

Dear AMSAT,

Dayton is nearly here, and I look forward to being there and renewing
many friendships and contacts. Certainly, one of the important things
about Dayton is to meet with suppliers and manufacturers to determine
the latest and greatest on the satellite scene, to learn what is coming
down the road and to advise our suppliers on our thoughts about the
next generation of satellites. In other words - to carry out particular
communications "one-on-one".

An equally important aspect is to see our members at the AMSAT booth
and to discuss their needs and ideas for AMSAT. So, with this in mind, I
am marking on my calendar specific times on each day at Dayton this
year to be present at - or near - the booth to meet as many AMSAT
members as I can and to hear your thoughts and ideas.

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, May 18th	-	10:00-11:30 AM  and  2:00-3:00 PM
Saturday, May 19th     	-	11:00 AM-12:00  and  2:00-3:00 PM 
Sunday, May 20th      	-	10:00-11.00 AM
 
In addition, I will be at the AMSAT Dinner at the Amber Rose Restaurant
on Friday evening and at the AMSAT Forum on Saturday morning
(8:30-10:00), but these are more formal occasions and not always
available for detailed discussions of your thoughts.

AMSAT is always looking for volunteers, people like you, who would
enjoy contributing to the hobby, and if you feel that there is something
within the AMSAT organization that you would enjoy doing, please let
me know when we meet.

AMSAT has all sorts of opportunities available, some involve aspects
which are not technical, but organizational, and we have a need for
those as well as the technical functions.

However, whether you wish to volunteer or not I look forward to seeing
you in Dayton!
 
73,
 
Robin Haighton, VE3FRH
President AMSAT-NA

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

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126.03
AMSAT AT DAYTON!

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 200
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-126.03

The Dayton Hamvention is quickly approaching and AMSAT-NA's
activities at Hamvention will be extensive! AMSAT will be in the same
booth location as previous years - spaces 445-448. The booth theme
this year is - AMSAT: Pioneering the future of Amateur Radio on the ISS.

The booth will feature a variety of updated and new items, including:

* A new AMSAT design with an ARISS theme that will be embroidered
on a golf shirt as well as offered on a new T-shirt. An AMSAT cap with
the 'Pioneering' theme will also be available.

* The AMSAT Journal CD-ROM will be available in two volumes:
1995-1997 (Volumes 18-20) and 1998-2000 (Volumes 21-23).

* An updated (laminated) AMSAT Frequency Guide with the latest
satellite information will be available as well as the Amateur
Satellite Resource Guide, Working the Easy Sats and Digital Satellite
Guide publications.

* The popular 'Mode-S: The Book' will also be available with plenty of
new information pertaining to using Mode-S on AO-40.

* Once again, AMSAT will offer the Arrow Antenna at the booth this year
and will also have available a Mode-S receive converter and antenna.
These items will only be available from AMSAT at Hamvention.

* The latest version of WISP, NOVA and MacDoppler Pro, along with the
Kansas City Tracker will be available.

AMSAT also has been offered a wonderful opportunity to build our
membership base during Dayton. An AMSAT benefactor has offered to
cover the cost of a providing a complete Mode-S and Mode-L system for
use with AO-40! This includes antennas, a Mode-S downconverter and
Mode-L transverter/amplifier. The user will need to provide an
appropriate SSB/CW transceiver to serve as the exciter/receiver. The
drawing for the AO-40 station equipment will be done at the AMSAT
booth on Sunday, May 20th. The winner does not have to be present to
win and AMSAT will cover the cost of shipping the radio to the member's
address as shown on the membership form.

The annual AMSAT dinner will take place on May 19th at the Amber
Rose Restaurant, the same location used for the past five years. A
program will follow the dinner, featuring Jerry Schmitt, KK5YY, who will
share his exploits of working the satellites from Alaska and assisting
with the Iditarod dogsled race.

AMSAT will be involved with several scheduled presentations, including;

     * Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
     * AO-40 Status Report
     * AO-40 Ground Station Requirements
     * AMSAT's Next Satellite Project

See you at Dayton!

[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA Vice-President of Field Operations, Barry
Baines, WD4ASW, for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126.04
ANS IN BRIEF

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-126.04

ANS news in brief this week includes the following:

** Russia may place its own new space station in orbit in three years'
time, says President of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics Vladimir
Senkevich. "It is necessary to take our own station into orbit to carry out
tasks that are impossible in the framework of international cooperation
on the ISS," he said in an interview published recently. -SpaceDaily

** Saturday, May 5th marked the 40th anniversary of the launch of
Mercury/Redstone-3, the first manned American Spaceflight. Alan
Shepard experienced micro-gravity for over 5-minutes during his
historic sub-orbital flight. -Spaceflight

** Lots of ham activity from ISS recently. Farrell, W8ZCF, Claude,
WB4WHH, Scott, WA6LIE, Rick, N4WYK, and Bill, VE7WFG,
all report ISS contacts on 2-meter FM voice this past week. -ANS
 
** After almost eight months of silence NASA has re-established contact
with the Pioneer 10 spacecraft. NASA scientists had feared that the
29-year-old craft had stopped working, but the agency said it had
received a faint signal from the probe. The faithful craft is still sending
back useful data even though it is over 7 billion miles from Earth!
-BBC News

** Solving a problem that has eluded scientists and engineers for more
than a decade, two professors at the University of Texas at Austin
College of Engineering have devised a method to make silicon shine.
Their tiny, highly efficient, light-emitting spherical silicon crystals hold
great promise for future applications ranging from laser technology to flat
panel displays for computer monitors and TV screens. -SpaceDaily

** Upcoming ARISS school contacts are scheduled with Parkway Central
High School, Chesterfield, MO; Saint Petersburg Junior Technical Center
in Saint Petersburg, Russia; Moran Prairie Elementary School, Spokane,
WA, and Davis County High School, Owensboro, KY. -Will, KC6ROL

** Japan's three major space agencies have taken the first tentative
steps to a possible merger later this decade with an agreement to
establish an initial joint program office to coordinate launch vehicle
development, along with the sharing of ground facilities such as tracking
stations and IT support services. -SpaceDaily

** AMSAT-UK is delighted to announce a special design competition to
develop a new logo for AO-40! AMSAT-UK is looking forward to
receiving lots of entries and being able to add to the funds that support
the development of our amateur satellites. Selection of the winner will be
by a judging panel at the AMSAT-UK Colloquium in July 2001. More
information is available via e-mail from g3vzv@amsat.org, or on the web
at http://www.uk.amsat.org/ao40logo.htm. -AMSAT BB

** The speed of light can't be exceeded (or so we think), yet, Cambridge
University claims that there are sources of radio waves out in space that
move faster than light. A team of physicists at Oxford has built a testing
source based on the recent research. -SpaceDaily

--ANS BULLETIN END---

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126.04
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-126.04

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.

The RUDAK system has been activated. The RUDAK-A processor is
sending telemetry and a pass-through of the IHU downlink information
on its own downlink at 2401.72 MHz.

AO-40 experimental transponder operation started on May 05, 2001
at approximately 08:00 UTC when the U-band and L1-band uplinks
were connected to the S-2 transmitter passband downlink via the
Matrix switch. This is experimental transponder operation and as such
the transponders may be shut off at any time without warning and the
schedule may change without prior notice.

Note: +/- 5 kHz around the Middle Beacon (MB) must be avoided. If the
beacon cannot be copied due to interference with users in the passband,
the passband may be disconnected and transponder operation stopped.

It is also planned to test the U-band and V-band transmitters again
when squint angles allow good visibility.

The uplink frequencies are 435.550-435.800 MHz and 1269.250 to
1269.500 MHz. The downlink passband is 2401.225-2401.475 MHz.
The transponders are inverting, so a downward change in uplink
frequency will result in an upward frequency shift in the downlink.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL and the ARRL 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			NOCALL
ARISS initial station launched September 2000 aboard shuttle Atlantis.
ARISS is made up of delegates from major national Amateur Radio
organizations, including AMSAT.

Status: Operational. Voice contacts with ISS have been made recently.
The ISS packet station is available for UI packets (APRS or UI QSL).
The mailbox and keyboard are currently disabled. Please see the
packet section of the ARISS web page before attempting to first work
ISS on packet.

U.S. callsign: 		NA1SS
Russian callsigns:	RS0ISS, RZ3DZR

The QSL routes for W/VE stations working NA1SS aboard the
International Space Station:

U.S. stations:		Margie Bourgoin KB1DCO
			Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2) QSL
			ARRL, 225 Main Street
			Newington, Connecticut 06111

Canadian stations:	Radio Amateurs of Canada
			Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2) QSL
			720 Belfast Road, Suite 217
			Ottawa, Ontario K1G 0Z5

A self-addressed, stamped envelope is required to get a QSL in
return. The ARISS international group has not yet finalized a QSL
card design. It will be a few months before cards become available.

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 RS-12 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

Mike, N1JEZ, reports that although RS-15 can be very frustrating, he
recently heard his downlink using his 10-meter turnstile (no external
preamp) and 50-watts into his VHF beam. His downlink was S-3 with
some QSB. The beacon was S-5. This was a 31-degree pass over
N1JEZ's QTH.

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 heard and worked on AO-10.

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.

TEPR states on AO-27 were reset on March 24, 2001 as follows:

TEPR 4 is 38 / TEPR 5 is 78 (TEPR 5 is now 20 minutes long)

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 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 July 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-126.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-126.05

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 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 is operational with low traffic and low downlink efficiency. 

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. Downlink efficiency is in the 80% range.

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 information
and Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for 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

Clive Wallis, G3CWV, reports that he has updated his processing
software for OSCAR-11, correcting a Y2K problem with Keplerian
elements. The updated packages can now be downloaded from
his web site.

Ground control operations have now corrected the dates in ASCII
status blocks, reset the magnetorquer counters and started a new
WOD survey. However, users should also note that there is still a
3-day error in the hardware generated ASCII telemetry date. The
time in the ASCII telemetry continues to advance and the error is
now about 18 minutes. Unfortunately these errors cannot be
corrected.

During the period 14-March to 17-April, 2001 reliable signals have
been received from the 145 MHz beacon. Battery voltage observed
during daylight passes has continued to decrease. The average
value observed was 13.6 with a range of 13.2 to 13.9 volts.

Internal temperatures have continued to decrease by one degree.
They are now 2.0C and 0.4C for battery and telemetry electronics
respectively.

Magnetometer calibrations have steadily changed during many
years in orbit. Although the changes are small and are not
noticeable on a plot of individual channels, they do have a
considerable effect when the total magnetic field is calculated.
The spin period has varied between 207 and 339 seconds. Ground
control has now reset the magnetorquer counters.

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]

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.

At last report telemetry was as follows:

uptime is 432/17:20:00.  Time is Fri Apr 20 20:57:04 2001
+X (RX) Temp   -13.919 D  	RX Temp          0.603 D
BCR Input Cur    0.314 A  	BCR Output Cur   0.348 A
Bat 1 Temp       3.629 D  	Bat 2 Temp       4.839 D
Baseplt Temp     4.839 D  	PSK TX RF Out    1.374 W
RC PSK BP Temp  -2.422 D  	RC PSK HPA Tmp  -3.027 D
+Y Array Temp  -15.129 D  	PSK TX HPA Tmp  -0.002 D
+Z Array Temp  -18.155 D
Total Array C= 0.299 Bat Ch Cur= 0.005 Ifb= 0.015 I+10V= 0.329
TX:1009 BCR:74 PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:AA

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]

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: 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-126.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-126.06

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

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, reported recently to ANS that TO-31 has been
non-operational over North America for the past six months.

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]

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: Beacon only. 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 Time is Fri Apr 20 20:59:04 2001

LUSAT HIHI 60 AUN ADT AVB ADV AUB A66 A6U AE6

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

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

General information and telemetry samples can be found at:

www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu

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

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 over 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 over 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, reported 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
was 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 frequency (listed on the PanSat web site) 436.500 MHz
Launched: October 30, 1998 by the Shuttle Discovery
Status: Unknown

The satellite is not available for general uplink transmissions.

The Naval Postgraduate School developed PanSat. 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]

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

DOVE stopped transmitting in March 1998. The 145.825 MHz and
2401.220 MHz downlinks are off the air and the satellite has not
responded to ground station control.

[ANS has no further information]

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

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

[ANS has no further information]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[ANS has no further information]

/EX

--ANS END---

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

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:

ans-editor@amsat.org

Daniel (Dan) James
AMSAT News Service Bulletin Editor
AMSAT-NA Vice President/Public Affairs
Amateur callsign: NNODJ
Grid Square EN28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
E-mail: nn0dj@amsat.org

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