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[jamsat-news:1485] ANS 133
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 133
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
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-133.01
PHASE 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-133.01
AO-40 experimental transponder operation started on Saturday
morning, May 5th, when the U-band and L1-band uplinks were
connected to the S-2 transmitter passband downlink via the Matrix
switch. Operation has been extremely successful with many repots
of AO-40 operation received by ANS.
ANS has also received the following from AMSAT-DL:
Dear All,
After a very successful week of S-band transponder operation, the
announced test of the 10 GHz X-band downlink was not successful.
Michael Fletcher, OH2AUE, along with command station W4SM
tested the X-band (both the solid state and TWT) systems, and,
unfortunately, the test was not successful.
The IHU-1 telemetry indicated the proper commands were received,
but no power is getting to any of the X-band modules. Nothing
happened and even the status of the temperature sensors in the
X-band modules did not change. The values did not change when
the module was commanded on, thus the conclusion that there is
no electrical power within the module.
The problem must be either in the 28-volt supply or in the module
power control line from the IHU. This problem was never observed
during all the testing in Orlando and Kourou. A software problem
is very unlikely. It is planned to investigate this further in the next
few days and another X-band attempt will be made soon.
S-band transponder operation will continue.
The LEILA system on AO-40 has been turned on for the first time!
Recently, some very strong signals appeared in the passband,
several dB louder than the middle beacon. At this time the AGC on
the U-band receiver was suppressing up to 16 dB, clearly in sync
with the strong transmissions. LEILA was switched into the U-band
passband, (as seen by the MATRIX configuration). LEILA was
configured for a SCAN/JAM/NOTCH mode and it worked like a
charm! The threshold was set to a level which is approximately
equal to the general beacon signal, which means any stronger signal
will be detected by LEILA and a 'police siren' sound will first be heard
to give the offending station a chance to reduce power, otherwise the
notch will do it's best. Initial reports are that users in the passband
loved it! This is the first time that such a system has been used in
space for a transponder with uncoordinated multiple access.
Meanwhile, the RUDAK team has reported good progress with both
CPU's running for more than 10 days. Jim, WD0E, finished loading the
GPS task into RUDAK-A and also loaded the CEDEX task. Both tasks
are running but commands to begin their operations have not yet been
transmitted. Jim also reported that RUDAK-A telemetry continues to look
normal and the SmartNode temperature sensors on the CAN bus seem
to work fine.
73,
Peter, DB2OS, for the whole AO-40 team
(end)
AO-40 users are reminded that +/- 5 kHz around the Middle Beacon
(MB) must be avoided. If the beacon cannot be copied due to
interference with users in the passband, transponder operation may
be stopped.
ANS Principle Satellite Investigator Mike, N1JEZ reported that he has
been testing uplink conditions with AO-40 as he watched the AGC action
on the passband. His recommendations have been posted on the
AMSAT bulletin board. Mike reports that he "can't wait until AO-40 is
stabilized and pointing right at us! I see great DXpedition potential for a
small U/S system!"
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-133.02
LEAGUE ASKING FOR PRIMARY ALLOCATION
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-133.02
The ARRL is reporting that it has again asked the FCC to create a
primary, domestic Amateur Radio allocation at 2300-2305 MHz. ANS
notes that Amateurs now are secondary here.
The League first asked the FCC in 1996 to upgrade the allocation to
primary, but the Commission has never acted on the request. ''The
segment 2300-2305 MHz is of extreme importance to the Amateur
Service, especially for weak-signal communications and propagation
research, including beacon operation, due to the low noise levels in
that band,'' the ARRL said.
The renewed petition was prompted by increasing demands on that
portion of the spectrum due to development of new telecommunications
technologies. The Amateur Service has primary allocations in this part of
the spectrum at 2390-2400 MHz and 2402-2417 MHz. The ARRL last
year also sought to have the segment 2400-2402 MHz elevated from
secondary to primary. AO-40 has been successfully using this part of
the band for downlink telemetry and transponder operation.
Amateurs ''need and should be afforded protection from'' commercial
users between 2300-2305 MHz, the ARRL concluded. It also requested
the FCC to not introduce any other users to the band ''in view of the
necessity to protect the expanding amateur uses in the band which
involve sensitive receivers.''
[ANS thanks the ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-133.03
AMSAT AT DAYTON!
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 200
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-133.03
As ANS reported in last week's bulletins, the Dayton Hamvention is
quickly approaching. In addition to information noted last week, ANS
has the following data:
AMSAT-NA Vice-President of Field Operations, Barry Baines, WD4ASW,
is requesting additional volunteers to serve for a 'tour of duty' at the
AMSAT booth during a portion of the Hamvention. Volunteers will help
handle the myriad of activities that typically occur at an AMSAT booth,
handle transactions, deal with memberships and renewals, answer
questions and serve as a representative of AMSAT. Prior experience in
representing AMSAT at (any) hamfests is helpful but certainly not
required. If you are attending Dayton and have not contacted Barry to
tell him you can help, please do so immediately.
Barry can be reached at: wd4asw@amsat.org.
AMSAT will also offer S-band equipment. To assist AMSAT with raising
funds, SSB Electronics USA has graciously agreed to contribute a
portion of the unit price to AMSAT for each UEK-3000S mast-mounted
S-band downconverter that is sold at the AMSAT booth.
AMSAT will also have available the Phillips-Tech SPG-24 'barbecue grill'
style 2.4 GHz antennas at Hamvention. These units have been very
popular with AO-40 users. A specification sheet will be available at the
AMSAT booth. The UEK-3000S in combination with the SPG-24 will
provide an outstanding combination for S-Band operations.
See you at Dayton!
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA Vice-President of Field Operations, Barry
Baines, WD4ASW, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-133.04
ANS IN BRIEF
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-133.04
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** 'Fred' has no arms or legs. But his job is keeping astronauts safe.
Fred is the 'Phantom Torso', an approximately 95-pound mockup of
the human upper body. Beneath Fred's artificial skin are real bones
and Fred's organs -- the heart, brain, thyroid, colon etc. - made of a
special plastic that matches as closely as possible the density of
human tissue. -SpaceDaily
** The world's first auroral contact on 23-cm took place recently
between SM3AKW and SM5QA. Both stations report the signals
sounded much like auroral signals on the lower bands. Both stations
transmitted on 1296 MHz, with each station running about 500-watts
to high-gain antennas. -Jeramy, G4NJH
** The International Space Station's Expedition-2 crew has turned its
attention to the initial checkout of the new robotic arm now that the
outpost's command and control computers are working properly.
Engineers on the ground worked around the clock to restore full
capability of the station's control computers since their mass storage
devices exhibited failures in two of the three units during
Endeavour's visit to the ISS last month. Science activities continue
onboard, scheduled during and around the robotics work and
maintenance tasks. Many Amateur Radio ground stations report ham
activity from ISS this past week! Those working Alpha on 2-meter FM
voice include Bill, VE7WFG, Arthur, N1ORC, Dave, N6CO, Bruce,
K3LTM, Ray, W7GLF, Rick, K8RMR, Rose, KD7IOB, and Wade,
K5WPN. -NASA/ANS
** Space tourist Dennis Tito landed back on Earth when the Soyuz
TM-31 vessel carrying him and two Russian cosmonauts touched
down in the desert of Kazakhstan. The touchdown occurred just six
minutes ahead of schedule and went without hitches, ending Tito's
historic eight-day holiday in space. Tito expressed hope that his
pioneering holiday on the International Space Station would blaze a
trail for other would-be space-trippers. -SpaceDaily
** Russ, K5NRK, reports the May/June issue of the AMSAT-NA Journal
will feature several articles including: 'Special Event Station N4ISS' (by
KD4SFF); 'Project Duckling' (uses for dead Drake downconverter by
Alan, GM1SXX); 'Kenwood TS-2000: A Satellite Operator's Perspective'
(by Jerry, K5OE); 'ATOS-The Phase 3D Orbital Path Propulsion
Regulating System' (by Ernst, DG2KM); 'CEASAR-1' (by Jorg,
DH3NBC); 'Time Acquisition/Control Software' (by Arch, KT4AT);
'AMSAT-India News' (by Nagesh, VU2NUD); 'AMSAT-DC Meeting
News' (by Pat, N8PK) and 'AMSAT Field Day Rules' (by Andy,
W5ACM). These are all in addition to regularly occurring articles
and information. Membership in AMSAT-NA includes the AMSAT
Journal. -ANS
** The upcoming ARRL South West Division Convention in Riverside,
California will feature Dr. Paul Shuch, N6TX, (of the SETI League) as
the featured event banquet speaker. Forums will include such
notables as Gordon West, WB6NOA, Chip Margelli, K7JA, and Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF. -AR Newsline
** The ARRL once more has recommended that the FCC take a
"reasonably conservative" approach in its plans to deploy ultra-wide
band (UWB) devices on an unlicensed basis under its Part 15 rules.
The ARRL's latest comments came in response to a FCC request for
comments addressing UWB's interference potential. -ARRL Letter
** In what reads like a story from a 1950s science fiction magazine, a
team of University of Florida scientists have genetically modified a tiny
plant to send reports back from Mars in a most unworldly way: by
emitting an eerie, fluorescent glow. -SpaceDaily
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-133.04
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-133.04
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
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. Several stations
report working 3B6RF via AO-10 including Masa, JN1GKZ, and
Hardy, DC8TS.
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
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-133.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-133.05
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, last reported KO-25 to be 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, last reported UO-22 to be 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 18:06:50. Time is Sat May 05 21:43:54 2001
+10V Bus 9.900 V PSK TX RF Out 0.816 W
+X (RX) Temp -11.499 D RX Temp 1.209 D
Bat 1 V 1.225 V Bat 2 V 1.126 V
Bat 3 V 1.208 V Bat 4 V 1.244 V
Bat 5 V 1.114 V Bat 6 V 1.226 V
Bat 7 V 1.195 V Bat 8 V 1.242 V
Baseplt Temp 2.419 D RC PSK BP Temp -5.448 D
RC PSK HPA Tmp -5.448 D +Y Array Temp -24.811 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp -1.817 D +Z Array Temp -16.339 D
Total Array C= 0.057 Bat Ch Cur=-0.113 Ifb= 0.008 I+10V= 0.128
TX:1006 BCR:7C PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:4A
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-133.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-133.06
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 AE6Sat
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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