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[jamsat-news:1593] ANS 271
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 271
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 worldwide via the AMSAT ANS e-mail reflector,
followed by a live radiocast on 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.
AMSAT-NA is pleased to announce that recent (and future) Amateur
Radio satellite technology developments 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 <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
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT-NA offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors
to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits.
Initially, there will two levels for donations - Gold and Silver.
Application forms are available from the AMSAT-NA Office.
This edition of ANS is dedicated to the memory of William Sprague,
WA6CRN, of Whittier, California, who died recently at age 74. An
ARRL member, Sprague was a founding member and long-time
secretary of the Medical Amateur Radio Council. He also was a
member of the ARRL A-1 Operator Club. A recent edition of the
MARCO newsletter cited WA6CRN as "one of its true giants" and a
man "beloved and respected by all who knew him." [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 supporters
Werner Haas, DJ5KQ, and Dennis Kitchen, G0FCL.
ANS salutes Herbert Hoover Jr., W6ZH, who served as U.S.
Under-Secretary of State and ARRL President. The W6ZH
family have supported Project OSCAR and AMSAT over the
years. W6ZH is among the inaugural group of 50 inductees into
the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. The Hall was established to
recognize those individuals (whether licensed radio amateurs or not),
who significantly affected the course of Amateur Radio; and radio
amateurs, who, in the course of their professional lives, had a significant
impact on their professions or on world affairs. AMSAT and OSCAR
supporters/notables on the CQ Hall of Fame list include K1JT, K1ZZ,
W6SAI, W2SKE, W8JK, K7UGA, W6ZH, W3ASK, W1HR, KA9Q and
W3IWI. [ANS thanks CQ Amateur Radio magazine, published by CQ
Communications, Inc. for this information]
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-271.01
AO-40 UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 271.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-271.01
ANS is pleased to report that the GPS experiment on AO-40 has
undergone successful testing. This experiment was supplied and
sponsored by NASA to determine if it is possible to get positional
data outside of the GPS ring of satellites.
There are two GPS receivers on AO-40, the A receiver for receiving
signals around apogee and the B receiver for signal reception around
perigee. Both receivers are operational and data is passed from the
receivers through the RUDAK to the S-band transmitter.
Jim White, WD0E, has been the AMSAT coordinator and chief operator
for this activity. Jim reported that "we received a signal on the apogee
receiver from about 52,000 kilometers out with good signal levels."
WD0E told ANS that further data is being gathered and the information
is being analyzed.
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human
Spaceflight Programs (and an instrumental person in setting up the GPS
experiment), told ANS that "if this experiment goes the way I expect it
will, this will revolutionize the way we use GPS in space. Many future
high Earth orbit spacecraft will be able to take advantage of GPS for
autonomous navigation and station keeping."
AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, was delighted with the
news of the GPS success, and commented that "it is great to be able to
help our friends at NASA. Testing this experiment has been a long time
in coming, and we were worried that radiation may have damaged the
GPS receivers. Now at last we have a very positive result from this
important experiment."
AO-40 activity continues.
Stacey Mills, W4SM, informed ANS that the RUDAK time slots remain
active from MA-70 to MA-87 currently.
Mike, N1JEZ, reports he has been able to QSO 39 stations, including
10 contacts using Mode-L uplinks. N1JEZ has worked Canada,
Germany, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Israel, Hungary, Italy as well
as the United States.
Ed, AL7EB, reports 7 states including Alaska and Hawaii, along with
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Hong Kong - in 40 initials.
AL, WC9C, reports 231 contacts with 143 stations in 32 states and 28
countries so far via AO-40.
In other AO-40 news, Jean-Michel, F6GBQ, has completed an initial
group of contacts on 24 GHz with success. F6GBQ is looking for
more contacts on AO-40 using mode-K!
AO-40 is currently in a long period during which the Earth eclipses
the Sun near perigee. These actually began about August 28th, and
will rapidly increase in length. The will continue well into June 2002.
During September, eclipses peaked at 85 minutes in duration.
For the current transponder operating schedule visit:
http://www.amsat-dl.org/journal/adlj-p3d.htm
Stay tuned to ANS, the official source of AO-40 information.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL and the ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-271.02
SEPTEMBER 2001 PRESIDENT'S LETTER
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 271.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-271.02
Once each month ANS will feature information from AMSAT-NA
President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH. This feature is known as the
President's Letter. The following is the September 2001 installment:
The Presidents Letter for September 2001 is a little late, due to the
terrible things that happened in New York and Washington. However,
I am pleased to report that Amateur Radio has once again come to the
assistance of those who are involved in the search and rescue efforts,
and I feel sure that as a result of the continuing need to develop and
maintain emergency plans in towns and cities around the world - our
services will continue to be in demand.
I am also proud to report to you that since the infamous acts of
September 11th, the number of registrants for the AMSAT-NA
Symposium and Annual meeting in Atlanta has grown by quite a
large number, with many participants coming from overseas in
addition to North America. This certainly is in the spirit of "return to
normality".
More tests are being carried out on AO-40, and of particular note is the
testing of the GPS systems, which were provided by NASA. These tests
are currently proceeding using the RUDAK system and I hope they turn
out to be successful.
Design parameters are continuing for Project "JJ" and project committee
members hope to have their preliminary design review around the end of
this year. Meanwhile, the Business Development Committee has plans in
place to involve members in the important business of fund raising for our
new project - will you help? In the next few weeks expect to receive a
letter from me outlining the needs of the project and ways that you, our
membership can help.
Meanwhile, I look forward to seeing many of you at our Symposium and
Annual Meeting in Atlanta!
73,
Robin Haighton, VE3FRH
President AMSAT-NA
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-271.03
AMSAT-NA SYMPOSIUM NEAR
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 271.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-271.03
AMSAT-NA corporate secretary Martha Saragovitz reminds ANS
readers that the 2001 AMSAT Space Symposium is one week
away! This is the last opportunity to register by calling Martha
at 301-589-6062.
Show support for AMSAT and come to Atlanta!
Symposium Chairman Steve Diggs, W4EPI, announced recently that
Paul Middleton, K4NUH, the national sales manager for Kenwood USA
will speak at the Saturday night banquet.
The subject of Paul's presentation will be 'Amateur Radio - Hobby and
Industry'. This will be a wonderful to hear about our hobby from the
manufacturer's side of the equation.
For further details about the 2001 AMSAT-NA Symposium, visit:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/symposium.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-271.04
ANS IN BRIEF
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 271.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-271.04
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** ANS is pleased to report the successful launch of the Kodiak Star
launch vehicle from Kodiak Alaska at 02:40:02 UTC September 30,
2001. The launch had been delayed several times due to weather
conditions and solar flares. On board the launch vehicle (and of
interest to Amateur Radio satellite operators) were the PCSat and
Starshine satellites, as well as other satellites developed by the
Airforce Academy. Bob, WB4APR, reported that PCSat successfully
separated and is activate with 1200 baud AX.25 AFSK telemetry on
145.825 MHz. WB4APR also reports PCSat is not open for general
use until complete on-orbit checkout. "We ask that users please wait
while we get the system loaded," said WB4APR. -ANS
** AMSAT-NA corporate secretary Martha Saragovitz tells ANS that
as a result of the recent 2001 AMSAT-NA BOD election, Barry Baines,
WD4ASW, Dick Daniels, W4PUJ, Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, and Bill
Tynan, W3XO, will retain their seats on the Board for the next two
years. Bruce Paige, KK5DO is the first alternate and Dick Hambly,
W2GPS is the second alternate. They will serve until the next
election. -Martha
** After nearly two weeks of intense effort, the Amateur Radio
Emergency Service and Radio Civil Emergency Service volunteer effort
in New York City has wound down. The American Red Cross closed all
shelters that remained open in New York City on September 23rd, while
the New York City Office of Emergency Management terminated Radio
Amateur Civil Emergency Service support Monday, September 24th.
Any remaining Amateur Radio Emergency Service activity will be
handled by volunteers from the greater New York City area. -ARRL
** After more than a half century of writing CQ magazine's monthly
Propagation column, George Jacobs, W3ASK, will be stepping down
as the magazine's Propagation Editor at the end of the year. Jacobs,
who celebrated his 50th anniversary in the position last March, will
remain on the CQ staff as Contributing Editor Emeritus and will
continue to author feature articles about radio wave propagation as
well as personal reminiscences of his more than 60 years as a leader
in both amateur and broadcast radio. Jacobs will be succeeded as
Propagation Editor by Tomas Hood, NW7US, as of the January, 2002,
issue of CQ. -Newsline
** If predictions by the world's top meteor experts hold up, early on the
morning of November 18th skywatchers in North America can expect to
see their most dramatic meteor shower in 35 years. These meteors,
called Leonids because they appear to radiate from the constellation
Leo (the Lion), will signal the collision of Earth with streams of fast
moving dust particles shed by Comet Tempel-Tuttle. Amateur Radio
operators look forward to this shower to make many long distance
VHF and UHF contacts. -SpaceDaily
** Deep Space-1 plunged into the heart of comet Borrelly and has
lived to tell about it. The amazing little spacecraft was fantastically
successful in its encounter with the mysterious comet in late
September. Many recent mission logs have described why this
probably would not work, but it did work, and it worked far better than
expected. -SpaceDaily
** The worldwide JOTA (Jamboree On The Air) event will take place
soon. Many satellite operators will operate during this event. More info
about JOTA can be found at: http://www.middelkoop7.myweb.nl/.
Tom, N0NTX, reports the Pikes Peak area scouts will be using KO-25,
UO-22, AO-27, UO-14 and others. -William, PE1RAH
** ESA's "Teach in Space" 2001 Education Conference has become
attractive for Europe's teachers. The first International Space Station
Conference in Europe (for teachers) will be held in late October at the
European Space Agency's ESTEC center in the Netherlands. Teachers
of every discipline have been invited to come and exchange practical
ideas on how ISS can inspire their students. -ESA
** Jim, AA4MD, will be operating from Belize on UO-14 and AO-27
from October 1-7, 2001. His call sign will be V31KD. -ANS
** Scientists have shown recently that soccer ball-shaped carbon
molecules (known as bucky balls) can act as superconductors at
relatively warm temperatures, raising hopes for inexpensive, power
loss-free organic electronics and other practical applications such
as quantum computers. -SpaceDaily
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-271.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 271.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-271.05
Phase 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 / AO-40
Launched: November 16, 2000 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher
from Kourou, French Guiana.
Status: Currently, the U/L-1 to S-2 passband is active.
Uplink U-band 435.550 - 435.800 MHz CW/SSB
L1-band 1269.250 - 1269.500 MHz CW/SSB
L2-band 1268.325 - 1268.575 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 2401.225 - 2401.475 MHz CW/SSB
For the current transponder operating schedule visit:
http://www.amsat-dl.org/journal/adlj-p3d.htm
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.
Pieter Tjerk, PA3FWM, recently announced the availability of a new
program for decoding and viewing AO-40 telemetry under the Linux
operating platform, called ao40tlmview.
AO40tlmview can be downloaded from:
http://www.cs.utwente.nl/~ptdeboer/ham/ao40/
[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.
The Ladysmith Primary School, Ruther Glenn, Virginia, was set to
contact the ISS crew as this edition of ANS was broadcast.
The ISS packet station (normally) available for UI packets. 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.
The ARISS-US team delivered a new packet module to NASA. This new
packet module is expected to correct several of the problems that have
been observed on the current ARISS packet system. Expedition-3
astronaut Frank Culbertson, KD5OPQ, is planning to make the
packet module change-out.
The ISS daily crew schedule (which gives an idea when crew members
have free time and may be available for Amateur Radio operations) can
be found at:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines/2001/may/index.html
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
European stations:
AMSAT-France
16, rue de la Vallee
91360 Epinay sur Orge
France
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.
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
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)
[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
controller 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
Last reported, the JARL FO-29 command station announced the
operation schedule of FO-29 through October 2001 - is 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-271.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 271.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-271.06
TIUNGSAT-1
Uplink 145.850 or 145.925 MHz 9600-baud FSK
Downlink 437.325 MHz
Broadcast callsign MYSAT3-11
BBS MYSAT3-12
Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic
missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Status: Operational at
38k4-baud FSK
Bill, VK3JT, reports TiungSat-1 efficiency is 100% most of the time
with strong signals and (usually) 2 megabytes exchanged each pass.
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.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for this 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 moderate traffic.
Downlink efficiency is in the 50% range.
UoSAT command station G7UPN reports to ANS that UO-22 had
been closed for amateur activity for a short duration while command
stations assess the state of the RAM disk. Over the past few weeks
there have been increasing difficulties downloading larger files from
the spacecraft. The store and forward communications system has
been reloaded.
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, G3CWV, reported to ANS that during the period of 14-August to
15-September, reliable signals have been received from the 145 MHz
beacon. The internal temperatures have continued to increase as the
solar eclipse times decrease. A rise of 2.5 degree C has been noted.
The temperatures are now 3.0 C and 1.6 C for battery and telemetry
electronics respectively. The battery voltage observed during daylight
passes has increased. The average value observed was 13.8 volts,
with a range of 13.4 to 14.2 volts. The improved battery voltage is also
a result of decreasing solar eclipse times, and this trend is expected to
continue for several months.
The operating schedule is unchanged.
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.
Telemetry is as follows:
uptime is 593/18:20:29. Time is Fri Sep 28 21:57:33 2001
+10V Bus 9.950 V PSK TX RF Out 0.730 W
+X (RX) Temp -9.683 D RX Temp 4.234 D
Bat 1 V 1.183 V Bat 2 V 1.145 V
Bat 3 V 1.158 V Bat 4 V 1.221 V
Bat 5 V 1.157 V Bat 6 V 1.194 V
Bat 7 V 1.185 V Bat 8 V 1.229 V
Bat 1 Temp 4.839 D Bat 2 Temp 4.839 D
Baseplt Temp 1.814 D +Y Array Temp -24.811 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp -1.212 D +Z Array Temp -16.339 D
Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.306 Ifb= 0.154 I+10V= 0.166
TX:1006 BCR:1E PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:E1
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-271.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 271.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 28, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-271.07
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.
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 is as follows:
Time is Fri Sep 28 23:02:00 2001
CW-Code: avt abu aun adv aan a6b ttu aee
5V-reg.: 4.89 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V
10V-Bat: 11.01 V 10V-Curr: 116.9 mA
TX-Pwr : 0.938 W TX-Temp.: 2.02 ?C
+Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 6.05 ?C
CW-Code: avt abu ava ada auu a66 tta aee
5V-reg.: 4.89 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V
10V-Bat: 11.01 V 10V-Curr: 116.2 mA
TX-Pwr : 0.918 W TX-Temp.: 1.31 ?C
+Z-Sol.: 0.15 V Box-Temp: 4.98 ?C
CW-Code: avt aba av4 adt au4 a6e ttu aee
5V-reg.: 4.89 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V
10V-Bat: 10.94 V 10V-Curr: 115.5 mA
TX-Pwr : 0.909 W TX-Temp.: 0.25 ?C
+Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 4.27 ?C
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 for almost 8 months. ANS has received no additional
information.
When/if operational, 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 8 months. ANS has received no additional
information.
When/if operational, 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 to
be available to Amateur Radio operators along with software to utilize
this technology.
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: NN0DJ
Grid Square EN28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
E-mail: nn0dj@amsat.org
----
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