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[jamsat-news:853] ANS 179
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 179
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-179.01
NASA TIME LINE REQUIRES SAREX TO BACK OFF STS-95
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 179.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 28, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-179.01
The Space Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) payload originally scheduled to
fly on Shuttle Mission
STS-95 this October has been removed, along with nine other payloads from
the flight manifest due to tight constraints on the crew's payload activity
timeline.
Flight managers, after reviewing all of the planned STS-95 activities,
concluded that there was a need to reduce the overall manifest and took the
action of removing SAREX and some other secondary payloads. This action was
done to insure sufficient time to accomplish the major objectives of the
flight and insure the overall success of the busy mission.
NASA expressed regret at having to take this unfortunate action, in
particular, having to delete educational activities from STS-95. NASA, S
AREX, ARRL and AMSAT were in the throes of planning the activities for
STS-95 when the official word came concerning the mission. Four US schools
that had been selected for SAREX QSO's will now be first in line for
consideration on future missions, such as STS-93 and the International
Space Station.
All future shuttle missions are heavily loaded with activities that revolve
around building the International Space Station. But SAREX has an imminent
place in NASA's future plans for the few shuttle missions that will support
it, such as January's STS-93. The SAREX Working Group is looking at another
mission for 1999 that may be suitable, too. SAREX also continues to have a
big place within NASA's International Space Station plans, which involve a
temporary and a permanent Amateur Radio station onboard.
[ANS thanks Frank Bauer, KA3HDO and the SAREX Working Group for this
information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-179.02
THANK YOU FROM DJ4ZC
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 179.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 28, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-179.02
AMSAT-NA recently received a note of thanks from Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC,
AMSAT-DL President and Phase 3-D Project Leader. The note reads as follows:
"After the announcement about our launch situation, I received a little
under 400 letters until now. I wish to express my appreciation for the
support and suggestions that were mailed to me, and I find it impossible to
answer all these letters individually. All letters I received were very
encouraging and not a single real complaint was voiced.
This really taught me two things. The amateur community, and in particular
the AMSAT community, is looking forward to the launch of P3-D as a real
enrichment to our service and they understand the difficulties in securing
a launch of a 600 kg spacecraft in a highly competitive environment.
Second, the people waiting and wanting this spacecraft are a formidable
bunch!
I take real encouragement from these letters and it once more has taught me
why I am doing all this. So, I want to say thanks for all the expressed
support and all the suggestions. I am proud to serve the AMSAT community."
(Signed) Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, AMSAT-DL President and Phase 3-D Project
Leader.
To Karl's words of appreciation, AMSAT-NA President Bill Tynan, W3XO and
Vice-President Keith Baker, KB1SF added their thanks for the very strong
outpouring of support shown by AMSAT members and others in recent days.
"Your comments, helpful suggestions as well as messages of understanding
and support have been most helpful to us as we continue our search to find
a safe and affordable launch for Phase 3-D," said KB1SF. "With such strong
support within the Amateur Radio community, we can, and will make it
happen!"
[ANS thanks Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, Bill Tynan, W3XO and Keith Baker,
KB1SF]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-179.03
NASA FORMS OFFICE IN RUSSIA TO ASSIST IN ISS PREPARATIONS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 179.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 28, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-179.03
NASA tells ANS it has formed the Office of Human Space Flight Programs,
Russia, to oversee the transition from the Phase One Shuttle-Mir program to
the assembly and operation of the new International Space Station (ISS).
Astronaut Michael A. Baker will lead this office. Baker has flown four
shuttle missions, including his most recent flight as commander of STS-81
(aboard Atlantis) in January 1997.
Baker will be NASA's lead representative to the Russian Space Agency and
its contractors on operational issues as part of NASA's Human Exploration
and Development of Space (HEDS) initiative. This places Russian liaison for
all human space flight operations and initiatives under one office and
consolidates preparations for the assembly of the ISS, including mission
operations, crew training, logistics and technical liaison activities with
Russian space organizations.
Representatives of all nations involved in the ISS have agreed to
officially target a November 20, 1998 launch for the first station
component and to revise launch target dates for the remainder of the
43-flight station assembly plan. Although the new dates move the launch of
the first station component from June to November, the target dates agreed
upon for many major station milestones during the latter portions of the
five-year assembly plan are little changed. In addition, several
enhancements to the station's assembly have been made, including an
exterior 'warehouse' for spare parts.
The International Space Station partners have set an April 1999 target
launch date for the Russian Service Module. The first station
crew--Commander Bill Shepherd, Soyuz Commander Yuri Gidzenko and Flight
Engineer Sergei Krikalev--will be launched aboard a Russian Soyuz
spacecraft in the summer of 1999 to begin a five-month inaugural stay.
Launch of the U.S. laboratory module is set for October 1999.
Full details of the current ISS assembly sequence are available in a NASA
fact sheet. This fact sheet and more information on the International Space
Station are available at the following URL:
http://station.nasa.gov
[ANS thanks NASA for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-179.04
70-CM COMMERCIAL INTERFERENCE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 179.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 28, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-179.04
Reports from Guatemala indicate that commercial land mobile stations are
currently being licensed in the 430 - 440 MHz band -- against International
Radio Regulations. These stations may cause harmful interference to
stations in the amateur-satellite service operating between 435 - 438 MHz.
Any amateur station experiencing interference from what appears to be a
Guatemalan land mobile station should gather as much information as
possible about the intruder including; call sign, frequency, emission type,
and if possible, the content of its transmission(s). Also, note the date,
time, and call signs of the other amateur station(s) you are attempting to
communicate with.
Amateurs should report all of this information to your national IARU member
society so that a formal complaint may be lodged through appropriate
diplomatic channels.
[ANS thanks Art Feller, W4ART for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-179.05
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 179.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 28, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-179.05
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** The TMSAT launch, first delayed for a few hours, has been delayed for 10
to 14 days. The satellite has been removed from the launch vehicle at this
time. Information on the new launch date will be available soon.
--G7UPN/TMSAT Command Station
** MIREX will be allowing 'store and forward' message traffic through
R0MIR-1. This means that hams will be able to address messages to other
radio amateurs via the Mir PMS. Scott, WA6LIE, asked hams to "please use
this carefully, use this medium if you have no e-mail or packet/BBS systems
available to send personal messages to your friends." WA6LIE reports
R0MIR-1 should have the open message option activated by June 24th.
--WA6LIE
** Those attending the AMSAT-UK Colloquium (and do not have the booking
form) should contact Martha at the AMSAT-NA office. She has a supply of
forms available, thanks to Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ. They are also available
from the AMSAT-UK web page. --W2RS
** The FCC has extended (until July 16th) the deadline for reply comments
on RM-9267, the LMCC petition for an immediate reallocation of several
frequency segments, including 20 MHz of the 70-centimeter ham band.
--AMSAT BB
** Wayne, K9SLQ, reports a slump in the photo's being sent in for his
Satellite Operator's Photo Album web page. Wayne says "if you do not know
what the photo page is then take a look at all the famous satellite
operator's on my site. Better yet, send your photo today." The URL is
http://www.parlorcity.com/k9slq.
--AMSAT BB
** The European Space Agency recently announced the agency has taken the
first step in the development of a more powerful version of the Ariane-5
rocket, to be called the Ariane-5 plus. Development of a more powerful
launcher is needed to ensure ESA's continued competitiveness on the
international launcher market. --ESA Bulletin
** The next World Radiocommunication Conference--until now referred to as
WRC-99 for planning purposes--actually will take place in 2000. The ITU
Council decided the question when it met recently in Geneva. What's now
likely to be called WRC-2000, is tentatively set to be held starting May 8,
2000 in Istanbul, Turkey. Expected to be lurking in the wings at WRC-2000
(hoping for an allocation of additional spectrum) will be the low-Earth
orbiting satellite industry, the infamous Little LEO's. The industry seeks
an additional 7 to 10 MHz of spectrum below 1 GHz. --ARRL Letter
** The US vanity call sign application fee will drop to $13 effective
September 14,1998. This comes from the FCC's Terry Johnson in the Office of
Managing Director. The new fee will be for a ten-year term, payable at the
time of application for a new, renewed, or reinstated license. --ARRL
Letter
** Doug Smith, KF6DX, the Chief Engineer at Kachina, will take over the
editorial reins of QEX--the Forum For Communications Experimenters--
beginning with the September issue. --ARRL Letter
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-179.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 179.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 28, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-179.06
MIR/SAFEX
SAFEX II 70 cm Repeater
Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz
Downlink 437.950 MHz FM
Semi-operational.
SAFEX II 70 cm QSO Mode
Uplink 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz
Downlink 437.925 MHz FM
Semi-operational.
PMS
Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK
Operational.
The current crew onboard Mir are Talgat Musabayev and Nikolai Budarin. They
speak and read Russian only. Any messages addressed as personal to R0MIR
will not be understood unless it is in Russian. MIREX is again allowing
R0MIR-1 for store and forward message traffic.
The PBBS is running a Kantronics KPC-9612 + V.8.1 TNC. The commands are
similar to most PBBS and BBS systems.
MIREX President N6CO reports he recently mailed 130 Mir QSL cards.
[ANS thanks Scott Avery, WA6LIE, and the MIREX team for Mir status
information]
RS-12
Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB
Operational, mode KA.
RS-15
Uplink 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/SSB
Semi-operational.
RS-15 has apparently lost its TLM beacon.
RS-16
The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational. Attempts to command the
Mode A transponder on have been unsuccessful.
AO-10
Uplink 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB
Operational.
The satellite continues to work quite well with many active stations. DX
continues
to be heard and worked daily.
Stacey Mills, 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]
AO-27
Uplink 145.850 MHz FM
Downlink 436.792 MHz FM
Operational.
AO-27 TEPR States are currently:
4 = 36 = 18 Minutes
5 = 72 = 36 Minutes
This means AO-27's transmitter turns on 18 minutes after entering the Sun
and stays on for 18 minutes. AO-27's transmitter is turned off at all other
times during the orbit. N4USI reminds stations that this happens on every
orbit, approximately 14.2 times a day. The current TEPR settings will cause
the satellite to be on during the daytime at northern latitudes.
[ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control-op for this update]
FO-20
Uplink 145.900 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB
Operational. FO-20 in mode JA continuously.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK for his FO-20 status reports]
FO-29
Voice/CW Mode JA
Uplink 145.900 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB
Operational.
Digital Mode JD
Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM
Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK
Not operational, the satellite is in JA (voice) mode.
Kazu, JJ1WTK, tells ANS that OBC bit errors were again detected and the
on-board
computer reset. Investigation of bit error frequency continues.
The FO-29 command station is now asking for reports from radio amateurs who
can confirm the value of channel 2A, the 5th item transmitted in CW after
'HI HI'. The normal value of channel 2A is
'00'. Reports will be appreciated (in e-mail) addressed to:
lab@jarl.or.jp.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-179.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 179.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 28, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-179.07
KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Operational. The telemetry is nominal.
The satellite is exhibiting optimum performance.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC for this report]
KO-25
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 436.50 MHz FM
Operational. The telemetry is nominal.
The satellite is exhibiting optimum performance.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC for this report]
UO-22
Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.120 MHz FM
Operational.
More information on the satellite is available at the following URL:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, Operations Manager of UO-22 for
this report]
OSCAR-11
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud PSK
Beacon 2401.500 MHz
Operational.
During the period of 16-May to 14-June reasonable signals have been
received from the satellite. A single WOD survey of channels 1, 2, 3, 61
(magnetometers) has been transmitted. A quick plot of this WOD showed
reasonable agreement with the theoretical field and nominal attitude.
Beacon reception reports should be sent to: g3cwv@amsat.org.
In response to many requests for information about methods of decoding
OSCAR-11 signals, a package of hardware information has been added to the
satellite web site. The site also contains some software for capturing
data, decoding ASCII telemetry and WOD information.
The URL is http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/
[ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information]
AMSAT-OSCAR-16 (PACSAT)
Uplink 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.86 MHz FM 1200 bps Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB, 1200 bps RC-BPSK 1200 Baud PSK
Beacon 2401.1428 MHz
Operating normally.
The AO-16 command team has authorized an APRS experiment on
AO-16 to explore the use of the 1200-baud PACSAT for APRS position/status
reporting.
The test periods will run each Tuesday from 0000 to 2359 UTC.
The telemetry is nominal. The S band transmitter is off.
Time is Sat Jun 27 12:26:49 1998 uptime is 1378/06:54:02
Bat 1 V 1.324 V Bat 2 V 1.365 V
Bat 3 V 1.374 V Bat 4 V 1.342 V
Bat 5 V 1.369 V Bat 6 V 1.363 V
Bat 7 V 1.389 V Bat 8 V 1.379 V
Bat 1 Temp 0.603 D Bat 2 Temp 1.209 D
IR Detector 255.000 C RC PSK TX Out 0.472 W
Total Array C= 0.249 Bat Ch Cur=-0.015 Ifb= 0.065 I+10V= 0.255
TX:010B BCR:84 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:E3
General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at:
http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/wod.htm
[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report]
DO-17 (DOVE)
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK
Beacon 2401.220 MHz
Currently non-operational.
The 145.825 MHz and 2401.220 MHz downlinks are off the air. No
additional information is available at this time.
WEBERSAT (WO-18)
Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB 1200 Baud PSK AX.25
Currently non-operational.
WO-18 is in MBL mode after a software crash. No additional information is
available at this time.
LUSAT-OSCAR-19
Uplink 145.84 145.86 145.88 145.90 MHz FM 1200 bps Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB 1200 bps RC-BPSK
Operating normally.
The telemetry is nominal.
Time is Sat Jun 27 11:27:45 1998 uptime is 1102/21:22:35
Bat 1 V 1.389 V Bat 2 V 1.401 V
Bat 3 V 1.425 V Bat 4 V 1.404 V
Bat 5 V 1.423 V Bat 6 V 1.496 V
Bat 7 V 1.408 V Bat 8 V 1.388 V
Bat 1 Temp -1.552 D Bat 2 Temp -0.430 D
BCR Set Point 130.123 C RC PSK TX Out 0.520 W
Total Array C= 0.349 Bat Ch Cur= 0.183 Ifb= 0.018 I+10V= 0.108
TX:100 BCR:38 PWRC:333A31 BT:34 WC:35
General information and telemetry samples can be found at:
http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/lo19.htm
[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report]
IO-26 (ITAMSAT)
Uplink 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM 1200 Baud PSK
Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB
Semi-operational.
Telemetry is reported as being downloaded on 435.822 MHz at 1200 baud PSK.
No additional information is available at this time.
--ANS END---
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to
ans-editor@amsat.org, (or to)
ANS Editor, Dan James, NN0DJ, at nn0dj@amsat.org.
/EX
Daniel (Dan) James
AMSAT News Service Bulletin Editor
Amateur callsign: NN0DJ
Grid Square EN28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
e-mail: nn0dj@amsat.org
Michelle Ervin
AMSAT News Service Assistant Bulletin Editor
Amateur callsign: KA9FUL
Grid Square EM89du
Springfield, Ohio U.S.A.
e-mail: ka9ful@amsat.org