[jamsat-news:859] ANS 193

[Dan James <nn0dj@means.net>]

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE	
ANS 193	

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-193.01
TMSAT-1 LAUNCH

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 193.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 12, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-193.01

ANS is pleased to report the launch of two new Amateur Radio digital 
satellites.

TMSAT-1
------------
The TMSAT-1 micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian 
Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch, aboard a RESURS-O1 
spacecraft, took place at 06:30 UTC, July 10, 1998. This was following a 
40-minute launch delay and after a scrubbed launch the day before just 2 
minutes before the planned liftoff.

Following the launch, the satellite was separated from the RESURS launch 
vehicle and became an object in its own right, placed into an 821km 
sun-synchronous orbit. TMSAT-1 was then switched on and began sending data 
on its downlink frequency of 436.925 MHz. Current output power is 
approximately 1.7 to 2 watts.

Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, the command station for this new bird, tells 
ANS the satellite is transmitting VLSI telemetry in an asynchronous format. 
Telemetry collected over the past 24 hours show the spacecraft is operating 
normally. G7UPN 's immediate plan for the satellite is to continue to load 
the flight software to the on-board computer and then start stabilizing the 
attitude. "This will hopefully be finished soon and we will then switch to 
the standard OBC telemetry mode that most people are familiar with," 
reports Jackson.

G7UPN is asking stations that can receive the UOSAT VLSI telemetry format 
at 9600 baud FSK to capture telemetry from the satellite and send it to him 
using the following e-mail address;

C.Jackson@ee.surrey.ac.uk

Jackson is requesting that stations please refrain from attempting to 
uplink to the spacecraft at this time.

An initial set of raw Keplerian orbital data has been provided. The element 
set is accurate for tracking the spacecraft.

TMSAT-1
1 25395U 98043B   98191.87373682 -.00000045  00000-0  00000+0 0 24
2 25395  98.7944 261.8948 0001516   6.1903 313.0257 14.22263117 96

The satellite is being heard worldwide. Roy, W0SL reports receiving the 
data carrier on a recent low elevation pass. "I found the frequency about 4 
kHz higher here than I expected," reports W0SL. Bill, N4DH reports a 
"strong carrier" on a recent pass. From Tokyo, Masa, JN1GKZ reports hearing 
the satellite with 5x9 plus signals. Cliff, K7RR reports the downlink 
telemetry of TMSAT was very loud. Scott, VE6ITV reports a very strong 
downlink signal while he was testing his new 70cm preamp. IK2XRO and IW2EGC 
report the signal was very strong over Europe as well.

A brief overview of the TMSAT satellite and commissioning plan is available 
at the following URL:

http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/amateur/tmsat/tmsat_commissioni  
ng_plan.html.

TechSat-1B
----------------
Also launched aboard the RESURS-O1 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome 
was the TechSat-1B satellite. TechSat-1B is a digital store-and-forward 
satellite using 9600 baud, frequency shift keying (FSK), much like UO-22, 
KO-23 or KO-25. TechSat-1B will feature VHF/L-band uplinks, with downlinks 
in the 70cm band.

No official announcement about this new satellite has been received from 
the TechSat team.

Assi Friedman, 4X1KX/KK7KX tells ANS the satellite does not have a 
continuos beacon, but does transmit a 9600 baud burst every 30 seconds 
(about 3 seconds in length).

Richard Limebear, G3RWL reports receiving some preliminary information 
about the spacecraft from Shlomo Menuchin, 4X1AS. The satellite appears 
healthy and is currently being stabilized after experiencing cold 
temperatures during the launch phase.

4X4AS is estimating that it will be several weeks before the initial 
in-orbit testing is completed. In the meantime TechSat will continue its 
present burst-mode transmission format.

The TechSat team will soon have an operations facility whereby ground 
control stations will be able to call for telemetry during overhead 
satellite passes. In addition, Menuchin reports software will soon be 
released to decode the transmissions from the satellite.

A TechSat web site is available at the following URL:

http://www.technion.ac.il/~asronen/techsat/

AMSAT-NA congratulates the TMSAT-1 and TechSat-1B launch teams for this 
exciting development.

[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, Assi Friedman, 4X1KX/KK7KX and 
Richard Limebear, G3RWL for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-193.02
NEAR EARTH SCIENCES BALLOON LAUNCH

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 193.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 12, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-193.02

Near Space Sciences tells ANS they have returned to amateur radio 
ballooning after a few years of flights for research groups and commercial 
projects. Joe, WB9SBD reports the next ham package is due to be launched 
July 18, 1998, with lift-off set for 13:00 UTC.

Actual launch location and expected coverage area will be announced soon. 
In addition, a July 19th rain date has also been scheduled.

The payload will include an ATV transmitter, GPS positioning and a 
crossband FM repeater.

The ATV system will be centered on a Wyman Research transmitter with 3 
watts of output on 439.25 MHz, horizontally polarized with on carrier 
audio. The camera will utilize a motorized mirror that will allow ground 
operators to look anywhere around the payload using full vertical 
360-degree pan capability.

The crossband repeater will use an uplink frequency of 144.325 MHz, and a 
downlink using the 'on-carrier' NBFM audio feature of the Wyman transmitter 
on 439.25 MHz.

The GPS system will be running in full APRS mode. It will feature two 
frequencies for the download of GPS data. The GPS transmitter will share 
the 439.25 MHz horizontal signal and will simultaneously transmit on 145.85 
MHz vertically.

An Internet web site will be activated during the flight and will include a 
log-in area and chat room along with live images from both the ground 
operations and from the payload itself. To find the web site point your 
browser to the following URL:

http://www.rocketryonline.com/conferencing/conference.cgi

[ANS thanks WB9SBD and Near Space Sciences for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-193.03
CY9 TO BE ACTIVE ON SATELLITE

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 193.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 12, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-193.03

Ken, VY2RU and Don, VE1AOE tell ANS they plan to be active from CY9, 
St.Paul Island starting July 17, 1998. Operation is planned through July 
21st. St.Paul Island is officially recognized as IOTA NA-094.

The purpose of this trip is to provide communications for 40 Boy Scouts, 
their leaders and several scientists. This will not be a full-blown 
DXpedition as such, but Ken and Don do plan to be operating as much as 
possible between required duties.

Operation is scheduled for all high frequency bands, 6 and 2 meter SSB and 
CW and several amateur satellites including AO-10.

At this time the planned callsign will be CY9AOE.

QSL requests should be directed to VE1AOE at his callbook address. More 
information is available from Don at the following e-mail address;

dmroland@fox.nstn.ca

[ANS thanks Don Roland, VE1AOE for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-193.04
ANS IN BRIEF

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 193.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 12, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-193.04

ANS news in brief this week includes the following:

** The Phase 3D Integration Lab web site featured four great photos again 
this week. Another Housekeeping Unit, 50 Watts at 2.4 Gig, Arc Jet Motor 
and Mount and P3D Self Portrait were the pictures posted during the week of 
July 6th. To view the site and see the photographs of P3D, point your 
browser to http://www.magicnet.net/~phase3d/. --NN0DJ

** A recent issue of the trade publication Space News contained an article 
about AMSAT, Arianespace and the non-launch of Phase 3D. Space News is an 
industry trade publication published by Gannet that covers the commercial 
space scene. The article was in the June 29-July 5, 1998 issue. --WD9IYT

** Various reports indicate a German Tubsat-N communication and scientific 
research satellite was recently launched by the Russian submarine 
Novomoskovsk in the Barents Sea, and has reached its planned orbit. The 
launch was made using an RSM-54 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, lifting 
the 10 kilogram (22-pound) satellite into orbit. --AMSAT BB

** Japan's Engineering Test Satellite 7 is on target to begin the first of 
a series of automatic rendezvous docking experiments following a successful 
maneuver recently which saw the satellite target and chaser elements 
successfully undock, orbit separately and then redock. -- Japan Space News

** Japan recently launched an exploratory spacecraft on a voyage to  Mars, 
becoming only the third country
-- along with the U.S. and  Russia -- to attempt an interplanetary mission. 
--Morrock News Service

** Mike, N1JEZ recently worked RZ4HWF on AO-10 for his 100th DX country. 
Congratulations to N1JEZ for becoming the newest member of the satellite 
DXCC club. --NN0DJ

* SAREX Principal Investigator Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL, reports that the 
number of US astronauts with ham radio tickets has risen to 82. Three 
members of the STS-93 crew now are licensed, two of them fairly recently. 
They are Michel Tognini, KD5EJZ, Eileen Collins, KD5EDS, and Catherine 
Coleman, KC5ZTH.
--ARRL Letter

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-193.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 193.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 12, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-193.05

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 has announced an on going APRS School Days Test. MIREX is allowing 
schools to use APRS for position and status reports via R0MIR. Non-school 
stations are asked to refrain from using APRS type transmissions or beacons 
via R0MIR.

[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.

Rusty, NM1K reports D44AB and KP4SQ have been active on the satellite. Both 
stations are looking to complete WAS. N3DV reports there are 2 stations 
from Newark, England being heard and worked regularly.

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.

DX continues to be heard and worked. Jerry, K5OE worked PY6ASV using 10 
watts into an 8 element quagi. His downlink was a homebuilt 4-element yagi, 
TenTec transverter and an old HTX-100 transceiver. Bruce, KK5DO reports 
Asad, AP2AUM has been active. NN0DJ and VE6ITV report working Selva, 9V1UV. 
Scotty also snagged EA8BHH for a new country. However, the AO-10 'DXer of 
the week' is Mike, N1JEZ. He reports working OK2VLT, FBC1IXQ, 5B4/EU1AA, 
RA6LUX, TF3FK, UA0AET, UT3LL and CU8AAC.

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-193.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 193.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 12, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-193.06

KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK	
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM	
Operational. The telemetry is nominal.

[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.

[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.

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.

Time is Fri Jul 10 22:26:22 1998 uptime is 1391/16:53:35.
+X (RX) Temp   -13.314 D  RX Temp         -0.607 D	
BCR Input Cur    0.268 A  BCR Output Cur   0.312 A	
RC PSK TX Out    0.263 W  RC PSK BP Temp  -6.053 D  	
RC PSK HPA Tmp  -4.842 D  +Y Array Temp  -24.811 D  	
PSK TX HPA Tmp  -4.842 D  +Z Array Temp  -19.970 D	
Total Array C= 0.249 Bat Ch Cur= 0.060 Ifb= 0.018 I+10V= 0.233
TX:0109 BCR:73 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:B2

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 Fri Jul 10 22:59:14 1998 uptime is 1116/08:54:04
BCR Set Point  124.815 C  BCR Load Cur     0.107 A	
BCR Input Cur    0.452 A  BCR Output Cur   0.351 A  	
Bat 1 Temp      -0.991 D  Bat 2 Temp      -3.235 D  	
RC PSK TX Out    0.547 W  RC PSK BP Temp  -7.722 D  	
RC PSK HPA Tmp  -8.844 D  +Y Array Temp  -15.014 D  	
PSK TX HPA Tmp  -7.161 D  +Z Array Temp   -1.552 D	
Total Array C= 0.469 Bat Ch Cur= 0.243 Ifb=-0.016 I+10V= 0.124
TX:117 BCR:31 PWRC:36E BT:3C WC: 0

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	

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