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[jamsat-news:669] * SpaceNews 20-Oct-97 *
SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC1020
* SpaceNews 20-Oct-97 *
BID: $SPC1020
=========
SpaceNews
=========
MONDAY OCTOBER 20, 1997
SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It
is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use.
* UoSAT-OSCAR-11 NEWS *
=======================
During the period 30-Sep-97 through 14-Oct-97, good signals have been
received from UoSAT-OSCAR-11's 145.826 MHz VHF-FM beacon. The gap between
this report and the last one is due to holidays. Telemetry has been nominal.
The battery voltage has been steady at around 14.0 volts.
The internal temperatures have continued to increase due to a reduction of
solar eclipses. The battery temperature is now 17.0 C, and the telemetry
electronics is 14.2 C. One consequence of the increased temperatures is
that the VHF-FM beacon power decreases. It is now 260 mW compared with
375 mW at the start of July. Over this period, the beacon temperature
increased from 1.8 C to 17.2 C. The S-band beacon is not affected in
this way, and the telemetry indicates that its power output has slightly
increased.
The WOD survey of channels 10, 20, 30, 40 (+Y, -X, +X array currents, array
voltage) dated 03-Sep-97 has now been replaced by channels 17, 18, 27, 28
(+X, +Y, -X, -Y facet temperatures), dated 16-Sep-97.
A single AMSAT-UK news bulletin dated 21-Jun-97 by Richard, G3RWL, has been
transmitted by the beacon. This featured the Sputnik-1 40th anniversary,
Mir frequencies, RS-10 news, and the Keplerian elements for OSCAR-11.
Reports of the Mode-S beacon have been received from Stan W3QBK, Fernando
LU1HKO, and Andy VK5LZ. Andy uses a VK5WA converter, and estimates the
signal level at -150 dBm. He gets DOVE at -130 dBm.
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)
There are also additional status blocks after each bulletin is transmitted,
and between ASCII TLM and WOD.
The Mode-S beacon is ON, transmitting an unmodulated carrier, but telemetry
indicates that it has partially failed, and is delivering only half power.
Any reports of reception on 2401 MHz would be most welcome, and should be
directed to Clive Wallis at: g3cwv@amsat.org.
The 435.025 MHz UHF beacon is normally OFF. However, it can sometimes be
heard when the satellite is being commanded by ground control (ie. within
range of Guildford, UK). When the 435 MHz beacon is transmitting, the
145 MHz beacon is normally OFF. The data transmitted is mainly binary.
OSCAR-11 users are welcome to visit a Web sire created by Clive Wallis,
G3CWV. The site contains some software for capturing data and decoding
ASCII telemetry and WOD. There is an archive of raw data (mainly WOD)
for analysis, which is continually being expanded as new data is captured.
The URL is:
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/
[Info via Clive Wallis, G3CWV]
* SCI-TEKNOFEST '97 NEWS *
==========================
The Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society will be participating at the
National Science and Technology Fair "Sci-Teknofest '97", sponsored by the
National Institute of Science and Technology from 24-Oct-97 through 02-Nov-97
9Y4NED will be operating on KO-23, KO-25 and UO-22 and welcomes messages from
all. School groups will be visiting from from 13:00 UTC each day.
[Info from Noel, 9Y4NED via KITSAT-OSCAR-25]
* CASSINI LAUNCH SUCCESSFUL *
=============================
ESA's latest and farthest venture into the Solar System began at 10:43 Paris
time on 15 October. The American Titan IVB/Centaur launcher sent NASA's
large Cassini spacecraft on its way to Saturn. Cassini carries ESA's probe
Huygens, as well as the high-gain antenna provided by ASI, the Italian Space
Agency. In 2004, ESA's Huygens probe will plunge into the thick atmosphere
of Saturn's largest moon, Titan.
About 500 representatives of the scientific, engineering and industrial teams
in Europe, which created the Huygens Probe, were present at Cape Canaveral
for the Cassini Huygens launch. They saw the powerful boosters of the Titan
launcher light up the pre-dawn sky.
The launch sequence concluded with the completion of the second firing and
separation of the Centaur upper stage rocket. NASA's ground station at
Canberra, Australia, obtained good signals from Cassini an hour after
launch.
The European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) at Darmstadt will monitor the
condition of the Huygens spacecraft. Their report is expected in 8-10 days'
time.
The next major event will be the swingby of Cassini Huygens at Venus on
21-Apr-1998. This is the first of a sequence of "gravity-assist" operations
at Venus, the Earth and Jupiter, to accelerate the spacecraft towards its
destination.
[Info via ESA Press Release N 32-97]
* FO-29 OPERATING SCHEDULE *
============================
Date Time Mode
-------------------------------
13-Oct-97 08:26z JD 1200
17-Oct-97 08:18z Digitalker
20-Oct-97 07:21z JD 9600
24-Oct-97 07:13z Digitalker
27-Oct-97 07:59z JA
31-Oct-97 07:51z Digitalker
04-Nov-97 07:43z JD 1200
07-Nov-97 08:29z Digitalker
10-Nov-97 07:31z JD 9600
14-Nov-97 07:23z JA
21-Nov-97 08:01z Digitalker
25-Nov-97 07:53z JD 1200
28-Nov-97 08:39z JD 9600
05-Dec-97 07:33z JA
FO-20 is expected to remain in Mode JA continuously.
[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]
* OMAN VIA SATELLITE *
======================
Members of the Whitton Amateur Radio Group will be visiting Muscat, Oman from
16-Oct-97 through 28-Oct-97. The group will include 3 satellite operators
and will be active on satellites from the Headquarters station of the Royal
Omani ARS. Activity will be via OSCAR-10 and RS-15. The group will be
participating in the SSB leg of CQWW and have previously operated as ZC4EPI
and C56DX via AO-10 and AO-13.
[Info via G0MRF]
* FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED *
===========================
Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John,
KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below:
WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
PACKET : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net
SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, LUSAT-OSCAR-19, KITSAT-OSCAR-25
<<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>>
/EX
--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- John A. Magliacane, KD2BD -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Internet : kd2bd@amsat.org | Voice : +1.732.224.2948
Satellite : AO-16, LO-19, KO-25 | Morse : -.- -.. ..--- -... -..
Packet : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA | WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
Video : 426.250 MHz/439.250 MHz | FAX : +1.732.224.2060
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