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[jamsat-news:914] ANS 235
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 235
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-235.01
TMSAT-1 DOING WELL
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 235.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 23,1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-235.01
Chris Jackson, G7UPN reports the commissioning plan of TMSAT-1 (TO-31) is
proceeding very well and the command team is currently testing the imaging
system aboard the spacecraft. TMSAT has five cameras on board - a
wide-angle camera (WAC) similar to UO-22, three narrow angle cameras (with
a pixel resolution of approximately 100m and an image size of 1020x1020
pixels), and a video camera which will be used for taking still images.
G7UPN reports they have taken five images so far. The first was a test
over India under manual control from Bangkok, and the other images have
been taken automatically under control of the on board computer.
Jackson initially targeted the Red Sea area, "it is generally free of cloud
formations, which is useful for sensor calibration", said G7UPN. "For the
first few images we only used the WAC, and also took the first set of
images using the narrow angle cameras (NAC) over Greece. Due to the size
of the images this took some time to download, along with other
housekeeping and commissioning functions that were scheduled."
Jackson has uploaded two of the WAC images to the TMSAT web site. One is
the first image over the Red Sea, "this was actually under exposed and has
been enhanced", Jackson said. "The Nile valley can clearly be seen as can
the Delta area and the different sands in the deserts of Egypt and Saudi
Arabia." The other image was taken over southern Greece and the
Mediterranean Sea. To view these images, point your browser to the
following URL:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/CSER/UOSAT/amateur/tmsat/index.html
The TMSAT-1 micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian
Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998.
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-235.02
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 235.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 23,1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-235.02
Russ, K5NRK tells ANS a registration prize is available for those "early
birds" that register soon for the upcoming AMSAT-NA 16th Annual Meeting and
Space Symposium to be held October 16-18, 1998 in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
To be eligible, a participant must register by September 15, 1998.
Harrah's Hotel and Casino, located in downtown Vicksburg, has donated a
gift certificate for one free night's stay for two persons which can be
used to pay for part of the stay while attending the symposium. For
additional details on Harrah's Vicksburg Hotel see their web site at:
http://www.harrahs.com/tour/tour_vicksburg.html.
Registration information and forms are available in the July/August issue
of The AMSAT-NA Journal. They are also available at the following web
site:
http://pages.prodigy.com/DXHF93A/
The early bird prize will be drawn on September 21st. The winner will be
announced via an ANS bulletin. Additional details on the drawing or the
symposium can be obtained by contacting Russ Tillman, K5NRK at the
following e-mail address:
k5nrk@amsat.org
[ANS thanks Russ Tillman, K5NRK for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-235.03
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 235.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 23, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-235.03
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** Peter, DB2OS reports the current version of the official AMSAT-P3D
Bandplan for uplink, downlink and beacons can be found on:
http://www.aball.de/~pg/amsat/p3dqrg.html. --AMSAT-NA BB
** The recent AMSAT-UK Colloquium at Surrey University saw some extensive
testing and subsequent modification to the popular Drake 2880
downconverter. Three modifications were finally adopted which resulted in a
steady decrease in noise figure and increase in conversion gain. Full
details of the modifications are detailed at the following URL:
http://www.qsl.net/g3pho/drake2.htm. --AMSAT-NA BB
** Mark, N8VEA has recently upgraded the printing capability of his VHF-DX
logging software. The program now uses Windows95 printer drivers. This
enhancement means you can now print to the various HP desk printers (which
were not compatible with previous versions of the program). ANS editor
NN0DJ has used the VHF-DX program with excellent results. VHF-DX is a
VHF/UHF/OSCAR logging program for Windows95, covering DXCC, VUCC, and WAS
for 50 MHz and above operation. The program logs OSCAR contacts by
including the satellite name and up/down link mode. VHF-DX can be
downloaded from the following web site: http://www.qsl.net/n8vea.
--AMSAT-NA BB
** The Phase 3D Integration Lab web site featured three great photos again
this week. Where In The World Is P3D? -- A Well-Balanced Satellite -- Our,
NOT So Clean Room -- were the pictures posted during the week of August
17th. To view the site and see the photographs of P3D, point your browser
to http://www.magicnet.net/~phase3d/. --NN0DJ
** Shelby, W8WN reports the October Sky and Telescope contains an article
about the possibility of an upcoming large meteor shower. This is the
October Giacobinids (or Draconids). Also, there will be an article about
the possibility of a big Leonid shower in the November S & T. --W8WN
** Yuri Baturin, 49, former advisor to Russian President Boris Yeltsin, is
part of a three-man crew launched recently that will occupy the Mir space
station for the next-to-last time before it is abandoned. --Morrock News
Service
** The European Southern Observatory recently announced that a new comet
was discovered by amateur astronomer Peter Williams of Heathcote,
Australia. --SpaceNews
** Jeff Brenton, KA9VNV says he's maintaining an APRS frequency map at the
following URL: http://www.dididahdahdidit.com/APRSFreq.htm. --ARRL Letter
** Aerojet GenCorp has been awarded a contract with a value of $16.4
million to provide a deorbit propulsion stage for a technology demonstrator
vehicle that is currently undergoing flight tests at NASA's Dryden Flight
Research Center. The vehicle, named X-38, is an innovative, prototype
spacecraft that could lead to the design, development and construction of a
planned emergency crew return vehicle for the International Space Station.
--NASA
** Correction: The 'Amateur Radio On The ISS' story (ANS-228.02)
incorrectly stated that IARU satellite frequency coordinators from Regions
1 and 3 attended the AMSAT-UK session. The report should have said that
IARU Satellite Frequency Coordinator Graham Ratcliff, VK5AGR, and IARU
Satellite Advisor Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS5AKV, also were on hand. In
addition, ANS did not properly credit the ARRL Letter or Rick Lindquist,
N1RL for providing much of the information that went into that report.
Special thanks also to Ray Soifer, W2RS. --NN0DJ, ANS Editor
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-235.04
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 235.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 23, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-235.04
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.
The Mir/SAFEX repeater has been active recently. It appears that the
repeater is not available on every orbit, but is being switched on and off
at random.
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 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 Downlink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz
CW/SSB
Beacon 29.408 MHz
Robot Uplink 21.129 MHz Downlink 29.454 MHz
Operational, mode KA.
RS-12 continues to be the most popular of the current RS 'easy sat' series.
Rusty, NM1K reports working the following DX stations recently, XE2YVW,
EB8BTV, CY9AOE, TF3TK, XE1EWC and D44BS.
RS-15
Uplink 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 29.352 MHz
Semi-operational, mode A
The RS-15 TLM beacon has apparently started working again, although
intermittently.
RS-16
The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational. Attempts to command the Mode A
transponder on have been unsuccessful.
OSCAR 10 AO-10
Uplink 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB
Semi-operational.
Stacey Mills, W4SM reports another sleep phase appears to be underway.
"I suspect that the rotational speed is so slow as to be incapable of
holding
a stable attitude heading. Hence, we may be entering a time of chaotic
useful periods and sleep periods which cannot be predicted."
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]
JAS-1 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.
John, G7HIA reports good signals over Europe, working DC3ZB on a recent
pass. Gary, N9UUR also reports good signals, recently copying K9SB, W8JOM,
WB4FWQ, VE3NPC and others in the satellite pass-band.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK for the FO-20 reports]
JAS-2 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 error investigation continues. The
JARL command recently issued two statements:
1) FO-29 will be stay still in mode JA because the frequency investigation
of the OBC bit errors. The command team would like reports from radio
amateurs who can receive the value of TLM channel 5. The information is the
fifth item after HI HI on CW. The normal value of channel 5 is '00'.
Reports should be sent to lab@jarl.or.jp
2) FO-29 is in 'full illumination' (always illuminated from the Sun). The
operation mode may be changed in part due to anticipated temperature rise
of the satellite. A new statement regarding the satellite will be released
from the JARL shortly.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-235.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 235.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 23, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-238.05
KITSAT KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Currently semi-operational.
Kyung-Hee Kim, HL0ENJ, from the KO-23 satellite command station, reports
the downlink transmitter somehow "tripped" and went off the air on August
18th. HL0ENJ returned KO-23 to service August 20th. The reason for the
problem is not known at this time. HL0ENJ is asking that any stations who
received KO-23 telemetry data between the 18th and 20th please send that
information to him at the following e-mail address:
khkim@satrec.kaist.ac.kr
[ANS thanks Kyung-Hee Kim, HL0ENJ 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 AFSK
Beacon 2401.500 MHz
Operational.
During the period July 14th to August 15th reasonable signals have been
received from the 145.826 MHz beacon. Telemetry has been nominal. The
battery voltage has slightly improved, averaging 13.7 volts, with values
ranging from 13.4 to 13.9 observed.
The internal temperatures have slightly increased and are now 3.4C and 1.8C
for battery and telemetry electronics respectively.
A single WOD survey, of channels 1, 2, 3, 61 (magnetometers) dated
01-July-1998, starting at 16:24:09 UTC has been transmitted. This
was started at the same time the attitude pulse counters were reset
to correct the counter overflow problem mentioned in the last report.
It shows the unusually high spin period of 640 seconds.
Reports of the OSCAR-11 mode-S beacon reception have been received from
K4SNF, N1JEZ and OH2AVE.
The operating schedule is unchanged.
The ASCII bulletin is currently a static message, detailing modes and
frequencies of all the amateur radio satellites.
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/
Beacon reception reports should be sent to: g3cwv@amsat.org.
[ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information]
PACSAT AO-16
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 Aug 21 22:00:38 1998 uptime is 1433/16:27:51
+X (RX) Temp -14.524 D RX Temp -0.607 D
RC PSK BP Temp -3.027 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -3.632 D
+Y Array Temp -19.970 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -5.448 D
+Z Array Temp -20.575 D
Total Array C= 0.210 Bat Ch Cur=-0.051 Ifb= 0.022 I+10V= 0.298
TX:010B BCR:6F PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:3A
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]
DOVE DO-17
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK
Beacon 2401.220 MHz
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
Non-operational.
WO-18 is in MBL mode after a software crash. No additional information is
available at this time.
LUSAT LO-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
Currently semi-operational.
Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU reports LUSAT/Oscar 19 apparently stopped
transmitting. Ground control station LU8DYF has succeeded in regaining
control. Downlink signals show good modulation with an ASCII message
containing the following text:
July 31 - 1998. No BBS service. On Board Computer reload in progress.
Digipeater active. Thank you - Norberto - LU8DYF.
[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report]
ITAMSAT IO-26
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.
TMSAT-1 TO-31
Downlink 436.923 MHz
The TMSAT-1 micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian
Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998. The satellite is expected to be
available for general amateur use shortly.
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.
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, for this report]
TechSat-1B GO-32
Downlink 435.325 435.225 MHz
HDLC telemetry framed so a TNC in KISS mode will decode it
The TechSat-1B micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian
Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998. The satellite is expected to be
available for general amateur use shortly.
The satellite does not have a continuos beacon, but does transmit a
9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (for about 3 seconds in length), currently
on 435.225 MHz.
The TechSat team has also constructed a home page about TechSat. To view
the site, point your web browser to:
http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/
[ANS thanks Shlomo Menuhin, 4X1AS for this information]
--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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