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[jamsat-news:1624] ANS 327
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 327
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.
This edition of ANS is dedicated to the memory of Les Belyea, N7AIK,
former ARRL Montana Section Manager, who died recently at age 65.
ANS editor NN0DJ enjoyed many wonderful QSO's with N7AIK. [ANS
thanks ARNewsline for this information]
ANS salutes Lee DeForrest, the inventor of the vacuum tube, the basis
for the growth of electronics and radio communication. DeForrest is
among the inaugural group of 50 inductees into the CQ Amateur Radio
Hall of Fame. [ANS thanks CQ Amateur Radio magazine, published by
CQ Communications, Inc. for this information]
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-327.01
NOVEMBER AMSAT-NA PRESIDENT'S LETTER
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 327.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 23, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-327.01
Several times each year ANS will feature information from AMSAT-NA
President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH. This feature is known as the
'President's Letter'. The following is the November installment:
Greetings to you all at American Thanksgiving time, it is always a
Pleasure to partake in the annual feast even in these troublesome times.
Let's all hope that by this time next year things will be a little more
predictable.
As many of you celebrate the holidays, I will be in Europe together with
many AMSAT members from many countries. We will be discussing
various possibilities of assistance to each other and the various projects
that we have in mind. AMSAT-NA will be discussing our Project "JJ" and
I will be interested in the ideas of others. While "JJ" is our primary project,
I have no doubt that some of our members may assist in the design
and/or construction of other satellites - much in the same way that other
international people have volunteered to assist with "JJ".
You may be interested to know that I have received 27 nominations for
the new name of "JJ". I have asked Dick Jansson and Lyle Johnson to
assist me with the choice of the name. However, should the three of us
totally disagree, then Chuck Green will cast the deciding vote. If you wish
to submit any more names please do so by November 30, 2001.
I read on the AMSAT-BB that satellite operators in Europe are having a
problem in making contact with operators in the Americas, on AO-40. I
do notice that the number of contacts is reducing, why?. If you have any
ideas on this I would be pleased to hear them. Just send me an e-mail
< ve3frh@amsat.org >.
Once more, have a great Thanksgiving holiday period.
73,
Robin Haighton VE3FRH
President AMSAT-NA
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-327.02
STARSHINE 3 IS NOW OSCAR 43
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 327.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 23, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-327.02
AMSAT-NA's Bill Tynan, W3XO, tells ANS that a request for an official
OSCAR number has been requested for the Starshine-3 satellite. The
request came from Starshine Project Director Gill Moore, N7YTK.
Starshine-3 is a mirror ball with AX.25 9600-baud telemetry, transmitted
on 145.825 MHz. Starshine-3 is visible to the eye and will provide
students the opportunity to participate in its primary mission of satellite
tracking.
Starshine-3 is currently in a circular orbit at an altitude of 300 statute
miles and an inclination of 67 degrees.
A Kodiak Star launch vehicle (an Athena-I rocket) boosted three Amateur
Radio payloads into orbit on September 30th. The payloads included the
APRS equipped PCSat, Starshine-3 and Sapphire.
According to the request received by W3XO, Starshine-3 has met all the
requirements for an OSCAR number. Accordingly, Starshine-3 will be
know as Starshine OSCAR-43 (SO-43).
Congratulations to the Starshine team from ANS!
More information about the Starshine project can be found at:
http://www.azinet.com/starshine
[ANS thanks Bill Tynan, W3XO, and the ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-327.03
ANS IN BRIEF
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 327.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 23, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-327.03
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** Mike Seguin, N1JEZ, ANS principal satellite investigator, reports
the December 2001 issue of CQ magazine features several articles
about 40 years of Amateur Radio in space. On the front cover is a
nice picture of Bill Tynan, W3XO, in his shack. -Mike, N1JEZ
** Impact craters on Europa (the jovian satellite that scientists say may
hide a subsurface liquid ocean) shows that the moon's brittle ice shell
crust is more than 1.8 to 2.4 miles thick, according to University of
Arizona planetary scientists. -SpaceDaily
** The University of Canberra is preparing to commemorate Marconi Day
2001 on December 12th with operating to include AO-40. Peter,
VK1KEP, reports preparation is currently underway for the event.
Operating will take place from the School of Electronics and
Telecommunications Engineering. VK1KEP will have use of the
4.5-meter dish at the University, with a 2400 MHz downlink channel.
-Peter, VK1KEP
** Soon after Mars was formed, it was bombarded by numerous large
meteorites and asteroids. Scientists have discovered an unexpectedly
large grouping of impact basins buried under Mars' northern plains that
resulted from this pounding. The information comes from the Mars
Orbiter Laser Altimeter topographic data. -SpaceDaily
** High-speed lines connecting people to the Internet increased by 63%
during the second half of the year 2000. Of the 7.1 million high-speed
lines, 5.2 million were residential and small business subscribers. The
rate of high-speed growth for the year was 158%. -ARNewsline
** Oil may not be the only valuable commodity buried beneath the sands
of Saudi Arabia. Ohio State University geologists have located new
areas of potential metal deposits, based on satellite analysis of more
than 2,100 known occurrences of gold, silver, copper, and other metals
in the western third of the Saudi peninsula. -SpaceDaily
** The 2001 AMSAT Field Day Competition results show N1SF in 17th
place, W6VOM in 18th, AI5TX in 19th, K8AYZ in 20th and W0WTN
finishing in 21st place. Congratulations all! -Andy, W5ACM
** A University of Florida-led research team has created one of the first
practical magnetic semiconductors made with materials commonly used
in high-speed electronics, a notable advance in a hot new field known as
spintronics. -SpaceDaily
** 2001 AMSAT Symposium awards included a presentation to Sandy
Donahue, W4RU, in grateful appreciation for work as the ARRL Liaison
for the event. W4RU's dedicated service and hard work in this role was
noted with thanks. -AMSAT-NA
** A U.S. Air Force Milstar II military communications satellite was recently
shipped from Lockheed Martin Space Systems facilities in California
to the launch site at Cape Canaveral, where it is being readied for a
January 2002 launch aboard a Titan IV/Centaur launch vehicle.
-SpaceDaily
** The Russian Federation does not support no-code. The Federation says
that there are good reasons for the Amateur Service to continue with Morse
as a license requirement for operation below 30 MHz. It also says that it has
no plans to make any changes to its domestic license conditions.
ARNewsline
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-327.04
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 327.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 23, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-327.04
Phase 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 / AO-40
Launched: November 16, 2000 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher
from Kourou, French Guiana. Happy birthday AO-40,
celebrating 1-year in space!
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
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. For the current transponder-operating schedule visit:
http://www.amsat-dl.org/journal/adlj-p3d.htm
Paul, N4LXB, recently made his first contact via AO-40.
[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.
Successful ARISS contacts were recently completed with the Kopernik
Space Education Center, Vestal, New York, the Island School, Lihue,
Hawaii and the McKenzie Public School in Almonte, Ontario Canada.
This was the second Canadian school to talk to the ISS via the ARISS
program.
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 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
Miles, WF1F, has posted pictures of the new antenna system for ISS.
View < http://www.marex-na.org/fileshtml/galleryantenna.html > for
details.
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 (a SASE is required to get a QSL in return):
Margie Bourgoin, KC1DCO
Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2, 3) QSL
ARRL, 225 Main Street
Newington, Connecticut 06111
Canadian stations:
Radio Amateurs of Canada
Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2, 3) QSL
720 Belfast Road, Suite 217
Ottawa, Ontario KEG 0Z5
European stations (a SASE and 2 IRC's are required to get
a QSL in return.
AMSAT-France
14 bis, rue des Gourlis
92500 Rueil Malmaison
France
[ANS thanks Will Marchant, KC6ROL, and Jean-Louis Rault, F6AGR,
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. ZL2VAL reports
working XE1MEX and WA6DIR.
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, with recent updates by Ray, W2RS. The URL is:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/intro/ao27faq.html
AO-27 uses a method called Timed Eclipse Power Regulation (TEPR) to
regulate the on-board batteries. In simple terms, TEPR times how long
the satellite has been in an eclipse (or in the sun) and decides what
subsystems to turn on or off. The AO-27 pages on the AMSAT-NA web
site include an explanation of TEPR AO-27 operations (at):
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/ao27.html
[ANS thanks AMRAD for AO-27 information]
UO-14
Uplink 145.975 MHz FM
Downlink 435.070 MHz FM
Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana. Status: Operational, mode J
Tim, KG8OC, features UO-14 information on the Michigan AMSAT
web site - point your web browser to the following URL:
http://www.qsl.net/kg8oc
Ray, W2RS, has revised the AO-27 FAQ on < www.amsat.org > to
include information on UO-14.
[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 December 3, 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-327.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 327.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 23, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-327.05
PCSat
Uplink/downlink 145.830 MHz 1200 baud AX-25 AFSK via PCSAT-1
Uplink 435.250 MHz 9600 baud via PCSAT-2
APRS Downlink 144.390 MHz (Region 2)
Launched: September 30, 2001 aboard an Athena-1 rocket from the
Kodiak Alaska Launch Complex.
Status: Operational
PCSat is in a low power mode. Bob, WB4APR, reports PCSat is in a
higher than average eclipse period and the UHF 9600-baud receivers are
off. "Limited operations can continue as long as the telemetry is showing
00111111," said WB4APR. Bob also noted that no ground stations should
be using PCSat via the "safe mode" callsign of W3ADO-1.
The APRS-equipped PCSat was built by midshipmen from the U.S.
Naval Academy under the guidance of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR.
PCSat is a 1200-baud APRS digipeater designed for use by stations
using hand-held or mobile transceivers. Downlinks feed a central web
site < http://pcsat.aprs.org >.
For more information, visit the PCSat web site at:
http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/pcsat.html
[ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for PCSat information]
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.
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, 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 heavy Sat-gate
traffic. Downlink efficiency is in the 80% 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
During the period 16-October to 17-November 2001 reliable signals
have been received from the 145 MHz beacon. The internal
temperatures have continued to increase as the solar eclipse times
decrease. These temperatures are now 7.0C and 5.0C for battery and
telemetry electronics respectively. Temperatures have been fairly static,
indicating that the current eclipse cycle has reached a minimum value.
The battery voltage observed during daylight passes is unchanged.
The average value observed was 14.0 with a range of 13.8 to 14.1
volts.
The rate at which the SEU counter increments has continued to
increase from 417 to 479 counts per day. Decoding the SEU binary
telemetry shows permanent memory failures at locations 3EC0 and
37B1. Frequent faults appear to be causing the increase in count rate.
The WOD survey of channels 1, 2, 3, 61 (X, Z, Y magnetometers and
status) dated 16-August-2001 has been transmitted. This survey shows
the spin period to be 368 seconds. The spin period has varied between
203 and 232 seconds.
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 644/07:58:52. Time is Sun Nov 18 11:35:56 2001
+10V Bus 10.850 V +Z Array V 23.120 V
+X (RX) Temp -3.632 D RX Temp 1.209 D
BCR Input Cur 0.445 A BCR Output Cur 0.360 A
Bat 1 Temp 6.049 D Bat 2 Temp 6.654 D
Baseplt Temp 7.260 D PSK TX RF Out 1.631 W
+Y Array Temp 4.839 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 4.839 D
+Z Array Temp -4.237 D
Total Array C= 0.419 Bat Ch Cur=-0.075 Ifb= 0.026 I+10V= 0.410
TX:1009 BCR:7A PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:8E
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]
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-327.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 327.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 23, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-327.06
THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL
OR SEMI-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME:
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]
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: Semi-operational
Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-25 is marginally operational with very low
downlink efficiency - under 10%. The lack of traffic and low
downlink efficiency indicates a problem. In addition, KO-25's downlink
transmitter power output seems low or intermittent.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for this 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: Unknown
UO-36 carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward
communications and mode L/S transponders.
Paul, KB2SHU, tells ANS that UO-36 has not been operational (over
North America) since late July. In addition, Sangat, 9M2SS, reports he
has not copied UO-36 since July 30th.
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
UO-36 information]
TMSAT-1 TO-31
Uplink 145.925 MHz (9600-baud FSK)
Downlink 436.925 MHz (9600-baud FSK)
Broadcast Callsign: TMSAT1-11
BBS TMSAT1-12
Launched: July 10, 1998 by a Zenit rocket from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome. Status: Non-operational, no data downlinked
since December 18, 2000.
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]
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
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ANS is always dedicated to the memory of past ANS editor 'BJ'
Arts, WT0N, and to the memory of long-time AMSAT supporters
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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
/EX
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