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[jamsat-news:534] ANS-131 WEEKLY BULLETINS
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.01
AMSAT FILES SS COMMENTS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-131.01
On May 5th AMSAT filled comments with FCC in response to Docket
WT 97-12 which proposes changes to Part 97, the section of the
Rules governing the Amateur Radio Service to liberalize the
provisions under which Spread Spectrum transmissions are
authorized.
AMSAT supported the concept of liberalizing the Spread Spectrum
rules, but urged that the amateur satellite band segments be
protected from possible interference which might result from
stations engaging in communication between points on Earth, not
involving satellites. At the same time, AMSAT sought provisions
which would permit the use of Spread Spectrum transmissions for
amateur satellite communication.
AMSAT is reviewing other comments filed under this proceeding and
expects to file reply comments when they are due June.
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.02
STS-84 MISSION
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-131.02
NASA has set May 15 as the official launch date for space shuttle
Atlantis sixth docking with the Russian Mir space station and a trip
back home for ham-astronaut Jerry Linenger, KC5HBR. The STS-84
launch window opens at about 4:08 AM EDT on May 15. STS-84 is the
sixth in a series of docking missions between the shuttle and Mir
and the third involving the exchange of American astronauts.
Linenger, a Mir crew member since January 15, will swap places with
Michael Foale, KB5UAC, who will spend more than four months on the
station before returning to Earth on the STS-86 Atlantis/Mir docking
mission in September. Astronaut Wendy Lawrence, KC5KII, will
replace Foale in September.
Several other hams will be on the STS-84 crew. They include
Commander Charles Precourt, KB5YSQ, and Mission Specialists Edward
Lu, KC5WKJ, Carlos Noriega, KC5WKK, and Jean-Francois Clervoy,
KC5WKG.
Late last month, Linenger--more than 100 days into his four-month
research mission aboard Mir--conducted his first spacewalk. He was
joined by Mir Commander Vasily Tsibliev. It was the first time a US
astronaut conducted a spacewalk while wearing a Russian space suit.
Dave Larsen, N6CO, reports that Foale has received FCC approval to
speak with unlicensed third parties via ham radio during his stay on
Mir. Foale also has permission to use the German Space Amateur Funk
EXperiment (SAFEX) equipment on Mir in addition to the 2-meter gear.
The other STS-84 ham-astronauts also may use the Mir equipment
during the docking mission.
Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL, at Johnson Space Center, said Foale has
promised to keep the packet system on as much as possible. ''He
enjoys talking with people and looks forward to experimenting with
ham equipment onboard Mir,'' Bordelon said. Jay Apt, N5QWL, shares an
office with Foale, and Bordelon says Apt shared his experiences of
visiting the Mir station with Foale. ''Mike will be busy the first
few weeks onboard Mir, but after that he will be on-the-air,''
Bordelon said.
For more information on STS-84 (and pictures of Foale and Linenger),
check out NASA's shuttle Web site at
http://shuttle.nasa.gov/index.html/.
[ANS thanks the ARRL for this news.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.03
STS-84 NOMINAL ORBIT PROFILE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-131.03
The STS-84 Nominal Mission Orbit Profile and State Vectors are now
available
on the AMSAT Web page:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sarex/vectors.html
This file has a text summary of the major orbital events for the STS-84
mission and time-independent TDR/EFG state vectors for each event. The
corresponding Keplerian elements can be computed from the vectors (and
providing a launch date and time) using VEC2TLE.
VEC2TLE Version 9648 is available for download on the AMSAT Web Page:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sarex/orbit.html
STS-84 is scheduled for launch on 15-MAY-97 / 08:07:51 UTC.
[ANS thanks Ken Ernandes, N2WWD, for this information.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.04
STS-84 COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-131.04
UHF will be operated in a manner similar to previous flights with 259.7 MHz
being the primary frequency. UHF will be powered off in post-insertion (MET
000/01:35) and back on for L-1 day landing checks, and again for deorbit
preparation/entry.
VHF Transceiver Pre-Set Frequencies
-----------------------------------
CHANNEL XMIT FREQ. (MHz) RCV FREQ. (MHz) USE
------- --------------- -------------- ----------------------------------
0 none none none
1 121.75 130.1625 Shuttle/Mir 1/2 DUPLEX
2 121.75 121.75 Shuttle/Mir/Soyuz SIMPLEX
3 130.1625 121.75 Shuttle/Soyuz/Joint EVA 1/2 DUPLEX
[ANS thanks Keith Stein for this report.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.05
SIMSAT INFO
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-131.05
The Simulated Satellite (SimSat) project in the Greater Washington,
D.C. area now has its own mail list and you are invited to join free
of charge! For the introduction to SimSat, please see AMSAT News
Service Bulletin $ANS-020.02 from AMSAT HQ, Silver Spring, MD,
dated January 20, 1997. Or visit the SimSat website at:
http://garc.gsfc.nasa.gov/~simsat/index.html
TO SUBSCRIBE
There are two ways to subscribe to the SimSat mail list. The
first (and easiest) is to visit the GSFC Majordomo web site for
SimSat and fill out the brief request form. Go to:
http://listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/majordomo/info/simsat
OR you may send your request:
mailto:majordomo@listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov
Include as the FIRST LINE of text in the body of your message
your own information in the form:
subscribe simsat "Terry Smith, H.S. teacher, Hyattsville MD"
<tsmith@mentor.umd.edu>
(Between the quote marks PLEASE include your name, callsign if any,
your affiliation and location. The text between the <> brackets is
your direct e-mail address. Please avoid giving a remailer address
because the automated system will not recognize a post from you.)
Note: The text you place on the subject line of your subscribe request
is ignored by the machine. It's for your record purposes only. Also,
the volume of traffic is relatively low at this time. Nonetheless,
one may just as easily unsubscribe at any time. It's all automated.
You will receive a reply to your request within 24 hours.
TO SEND A MESSAGE
To send a message to the list, address your message to
simsat@listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov
from the e-mail address you used to subscribe. Note: NO message
can enter the SimSat mail list except from a subscriber.
[ANS thanks Pat Kilroy, WD8LAQ, for this item.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.06
THE STATION PROGRAM LATEST
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-131.06
The Station Program now includes support for the German, French, English
& Italian languages, with Spanish & Portuguese under development. Just
select your preferred language when you run the program for the first
time, you may change your language selection at any time in the Options
dialog under the Tools menu.
The Station Program is a complete ground-station control program, for
Windows 3.1, WFW 3.11 & Windows 95. It provides real-time tracking of
satellites, with automatic radio control. Ideal for the OSCAR operator.
It was designed especially for users of analog modes (e.g. voice &
Morse). It is not the same as WiSP!
The software supports the Kansas City Tracker, AEA ST-1, DDE Rotor,
TrakBox (Rotor), Icom CI-V radios (via CT-17) & Icom IC-IV (via
UX-14/CT-17) interfaces, Yaesu FT-736R, and is great for analog modes,
turn the dial and work satellite as easily as HF.
Kenwood TS-790 - Coming Soon!
The latest version can always be obtained from the AMSAT-BDA web site :-
http://www.amsat.bm
The Station Program comes on three diskettes, you may download the latest
release from the AMSAT-BDA www site. These files are .zip files. You will
need three blank formatted 1.44 disks. Unzip each file onto a separate
disk, then run setup.exe from disk1. Once installed apply the patches
included in the latest StaFix file. Please note that the Station Program
requires a registration number to execute, this is available from
AMSAT-UK, AMSAT-F, AMSAT-NA & AMSAT-ZL. All proceeds from the sale of
registration numbers are donated to the AMSAT Phase 3D Project.
If you want to be placed on the Station mailing list, then send a
SUBSCRIBE message, along with your real email address to vp9mu@amsat.org.
Alias names, such as vp9mu@amsat.org,cannot be used. This list is used to
notify users of the availability of upgrades. From time to time, .zip
files are attached. If your email system has trouble with attachments
then the latest version is always available on the AMSAT-BDA www site. If
you want to be removed from the list, then send an UNSUBSCRIBE message to
vp9mu@amsat.org.
The Station Program Registration Numbers can be obtained from.
AMSAT-F
14 bis rue des Gourlis,
F-92500 RUEIL-MALMAISON
France
Fax 33 1 47 51 74 24
AMSAT-NA
850 Sligo Avenue, Suite 600
Silver Spring, MD 20910-4703
USA
Phone +1 (301) 589-6062
Fax +1 (301) 608-3410
AMSAT-UK
94 Herongate Road
Wanstead Park
London E12 5EQ, England
Phone: 0181 989 6741
Fax: 0181 989 3430
AMSAT-ZL
c/o Jeff Garrett ZL1BIV
20 first View Avenue
Beachlands,
Auckland, 1705
New Zealand
Or email zl1biv@amsat.org.
[ANS thanks Paul Willmott for this software news.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-131.07
MIR:
(New frequencies implemented 1 January 1997:
Uplink 145.2 MHz FM Downlink 145.8 MHz FM)
Note, the above split is used for both packet and voice operation.
ANS has received information that states that all
amateur activity from MIR has been suspended until
further notice.
SAFEX, MIR 70cm Repeater
(Uplink 435.750 MHz FM, Downlink 437.950 MHz FM,
Subaudible tone 141.3 Hz)
ANS has received information that states that all
amateur activity from MIR has been suspended until
further notice.
RS-10:
(Uplink 145.865-145.905 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4 MHz CW/SSB)
RS-10 is operational.
RS-12:
(Uplink 21.21-21.25 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.41-29.45 MHz or
145.91-145.95 Mhz CW/SSB)
The downlink on 10m continues to be very strong, with some slow fading
noticeable, but still nice strong signals heard and worked from
Arizona and Puerto Rico into northern NJ.
[ANS thanks Dick Montgomery, N3DV, for this update.]
RS-15
(Uplink 145.858-145.898 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.354-29.394 MHz CW/SSB)
Be aware that RS-15 has battery charging problems. When the satellite is
in the dark it has low output power..
[ANS thanks Geoff Perry for this report.]
(Hint: If SSB doesn't work for you, try CW. CW is very easy
to hear on the downlink!)
RS-16
RS-16's 70 cm, 435.504 Mhz beacon on RS-16 operational.
RS16 had no beacons active on 10 meters ,2 meters .
[ANS thanks Kip Pettersson, SM1TDX, for this report.]
FO-20
(Uplink 145.9-146.0 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9
MHz CW/USB)
Operating normally. Strong downlink signal.
KO-23
(Uplink 145.85, 145.9 MHz FM, Downlink 435.175 MHz FM,
9600 Baud FSK.)
KO-23 operating normally.
.
KO-25:
(Uplink 145.980 MHz FM, Downlink 436.5 MHz FM,
9600 Baud FSK.)
KO-25 operating normally.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for his reports on
KO-25 and KO-23.]
AO-27:
(Uplink 145.85 MHz FM, Downlink:
436.792 MHz FM (As of April 1, 1997)
Operating normally. The satellite continuous working
excellently over.
Current AO-27 schedule information can be found at
www.umbra.com
Tepr 4 = 32 counts 16 Minutes
Tepr 5 = 66 counts 18 Minutes
AO-27 Will turn on Every pass 16 Minutes after entering the sun and will
stay on for 18 minutes. This corrects the early shut off that has been
going on for the passed few weeks.
Northern Stations will see the satellite turn on after AOS for the next
week or so. This is due to the TEPR states being calculated for a while
from now instead of Today. So the schedule will be drifting into a better
state. This gives us a longing time before the schedule gets out of whack.
Thanks goes out to the Alternate Control Station KM4NZ/N1XAU for the use
of their station via the Internet for Controlling the satellite. With
new software that lets me control the satellite at remote sights, He hopes
to be able to keep the TEPR Schedule more up to date.
[ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control-op, and Miguel A.
Menendez, EA1BCU, for this update.]
FO-29
Voice/CW
(Uplink 145.9-146.0 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9 MHz CW/USB)
Digital
(Uplink 145.85, 145.87, 145.910 MHz FM, Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud
BPSK)
The latest FO-29 Schedule can be found at.
http://www.kt.rim.or.jp/~jr1nvu/eindex.html
May
9(Fri) 00:57z(09:57) JD 9600bps
16(Fri) 01:35z(10:35) JA
23(Fri) 00:29z(09:29) JD 1200bps
30(Fri) 01:07z(10:07) JD 9600bps
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.08 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-131.08
AO-10:
(Uplink 435.030-435.18 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 145.975-145.825 MHz
CW/USB)
OZ1MY/Ib reports AO-10 has been FM'ing over the past few days.
Stacey Mills, W4SM, reports that the chances of
damaging AO-10 by uplinking during "FM'ing" are probably
remote. The caution mainly stems from a theoretical consideration.
AO-10's latching relays are set to the omni antenna and the transponder is
on in Mode-B configuration. This all turns out to be perfect since we
can't control the attitude, etc. Each time there's a power spike the
chance exists that the IHU could have a "seizure" and blurt out a pulse to
switch the antennas to higain, switch the transponder off or whatever. Of
course these spikes occur every time we come out of eclipse, but the idea
is to do what we can to minimize the number of power spikes. Occasionally
spikes have "activated" the IHU in the past and caused the beacon to send
out nonsensical data rather than the current constant carrier for short
periods of time. ..and it isn't clear when AO-10 switched to the omni
antenna,
[ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM, for this report.]
OSCAR-11
(Downlink 145.825 MHz. FM, 1200 Baud PSK. Beacon 2401.500 MHz..)
Operating normally.
[ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information.]
AMSAT-OSCAR-16 (PACSAT)
(Uplink 145.9, 145.92, 145.94, 145.86 MHz FM, Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB,
1200 Baud PSK. Beacon 2401.1428 Mhz.)
Russ Platt WJ9F, AO-16 Command Team , reports the digipeater on AO-16 has
been on for the last couple of months. In regards to the 2.4 GHz
transmitter, it does continue to work although WJ9F has not been leaving
it on for an entire orbit due to its high current load on the 10 v bus.
The battery charging scheme on the micros is managed during sunlight
by adjusting the RCPSK transmitter power up or down to charge and
not overcharge the batteries since we have no way to turn the solar
cells off. The S-band transmitter does not have the ability to vary
its output so it is a high current draw throughout the orbit. In the
past during Experimenters Days when we have turned on the S-Band
transmitter I had to scale back the output of the RCPSK transmitter
to levels that were difficult to receive and even with these low levels
the onboard software will still turn off the S-band TX if the Battery
voltage drops too low, which it did..
[ANS thanks Russ Platt WJ9F, AO-16 Command Team for this report.]
Typical Telemetry Status of Temperature:
uptime is 965/06:27:23. Time is Sat May 10 11:51:54 1997
+X (RX) Temp 1.814 D RX Temp -7.868 D
Bat 1 Temp 0.603 D Bat 2 Temp 1.209 D
BasepltTemp 1.209 D RC PSK BP Temp 3.629 D
RC PSK HPATmp 4.839 D +Y ArrayTemp -0.002 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp 2.419 D +Z Array Temp 11.495 D
Total Array C= 0.309 Bat Ch Cur=-0.060 Ifb= 0.072 I+10V= 0.317
TX:010C BCR:80 PWRC:5AE BT:3C WC:25 EDAC:3E
Graphic information about WOD/Telemetry values can be found at:
http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/ao16.htm
[ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.]
DO-17(DOVE)
( Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK.
Beacon 2401.220 MHz.)
DOVE apparently crashed late last week (about April 24). Cause of crash is
unknown at this time. WJ9F turned on the S-band transmitter about May 1
0500U and has started the reload process.
.[ANS thanks Jim white, WD0E, DO-17 Command Team, for this news.]
WEBERSAT (WO-18)
(Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25.)
Webersat (WO-18) is currently in MBL mode after a system
crash. The satellite appears to be in good condition broadcasting
MBL telemetry.
BCRi316.43mA bplt 1.340C TxPw 0.231W 5 V 5.742V 8.5V10.008V
10V 14.036V
[ANS thanks Tommy Davis, IK3WVJ, for this report.]
LUSAT-OSCAR-19
(Uplink 1200 bps Manchester FSK Uplinks:
145.84, 145.86, 145.88, 145.9 MHz FM, Downlink 437.1528 MHz SSB,
1200 bps RC-BPSK.)
Typical Telemetry Status of Temperature:
uptime is 689/22:16:32. Time is Sat May 10 12:21:42 1997
+X (RX) Temp 0.131 D RX Temp -1.552 D
Bat 1 Temp -0.991 D Bat 2 Temp -0.430 D
Baseplt Temp 0.131 D RC PSK BPTemp -0.430 D
RC PSK HPATmp 0.131 D +Y ArrayTemp 1.252 D
PSK TX HPATmp -1.552 D +Z Array Temp 2.374 D
LU BcnTemp A -2.113 D LU Bcn Temp D -2.113 D
Total Array C= 0.234 Bat Ch Cur= 0.035 Ifb= 0.037 I+10V= 0.165
TX:019 BCR:81 PWRC:36E BT:3C WC: 0
Graphic and general information about Telemetry values can be found at:
http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/lo19.htm
[ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.]
IO-26 ( ITAMSAT):
(Uplink 145.875, 145.9, 145.925, 145.95MHz FM, Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB,
1200 Baud PSK.)
IO-26 controllers report that the spacecraft is now in IHT mode. The new
ROBOT software is under currently undergoing tests. The beacon reports
that the digipeater is OFF and that the ROBOT is undergoing tests.
Controllers ask that groundstations please do not transmit on any of
the satellite's uplink frequencies for the time being.
[ANS thanks Daniele Piercarlo, IK2XRO, ITMSAT Command Station for this
report.]
[Please send your Satellite or News reports to ANS Editor B.J. Arts, WT0N,
via e-mail, at bjarts@the-bridge.net or to wt0n@amsat.org]
/EX
BJ Arts
Amateur callsign: WT0N
ARMY MARS callsign: AAR5EL
Grid Sqaure EN-37
Hibbing, Minnesota. U.S.A.
e-mail bjarts@the-bridge.net or wt0n@amsat.org
Amsat News Service Bulletin Editor