[jamsat-news:947] ANS 291

[Dan James <nn0dj@means.net>]

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE	
ANS 291	

ANS is a weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio
Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a
worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active
interest in designing, building, launching and communicating
through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The AMSAT-NA ANS editor is Dan James, NN0DJ.

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-291.01
PHASE 3D TESTING

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 291.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 18, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-291.01

The AMSAT Phase 3D spacecraft is set to undergo testing at the Orbital
Sciences Corporation (OSC) test facility in Germantown, Maryland, just
outside of Washington, DC. The satellite arrived safely in Maryland on
October 13th, transported from the Phase 3D Integration Lab in a well
padded truck.

According to Lou McFadin, W5DID, AMSAT P3D Laboratory Manager,
the spacecraft will soon be placed in Osco's thermal-vacuum (T/V)
chamber. Pre-launch vacuum testing will analyze the satellite's ability to
withstand the harsh environment of space. In addition to most of the air
being removed, the temperature of the chamber is cycled up and down
to simulate the severe heating and cooling P3D is expected to
encounter. Vibration testing is also scheduled, although that test will not
be conducted until late this year or early 1999. According to AMSAT-NA
Executive Vice President Keith Baker, KB1SF, "the exact timing of
vibration testing will depend primarily on any problems encountered with
the initial thermal-vacuum testing, and the availability of the test
facilities. Our invitation at OSC is on a space-available basis," he
explained.

Maryland-DC AMSAT Coordinator Pat Kilroy, WD8LAQ, tells ANS that
P3D will be "hidden" in the chamber for up to ten days during the
thermal-vacuum testing phase. Current plans are to broadcast P3D
telemetry in real-time during the test phase, from the chamber itself.
Local amateur stations in the Maryland area equipped to copy AMSAT
OSCAR 13 PSK 400-bps telemetry should be able decode any P3D
transmissions with little effort. WD8LAQ also said DC area AMSAT
members are also looking into providing a possible Internet link as well,
so that amateurs world-wide can see and decode the satellite
broadcasts.

Pat says the test phase is continuous. "One complete thermal cycle is
predicted to run about 36 hours," he said, and "P3D will go through five
cycles."

Pat told ANS that there may be opportunities for AMSAT members to
view Phase 3D at the Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) test facility.
Visitors also might get a tour of the OSC building "that is rich in history,"
WD8LAQ said.

Any requests for information on P3D during its stay in Maryland, or
viewing the OSC facility, should be directed to Pat at the following e-mail
address:

wd8laq@amsat.org.

For more information on P3D, see the Phase 3D Spacecraft Integration
Laboratory web site at:

http://www.magicnet.net/~phase3d/.

Information on the Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) test facility in
Germantown, Maryland is available at the following URL:

http://www.orbital.com/Gtown/docs/defense/facil.htm

[ANS thanks the AMSAT P3D Team, the ARRL, and Maryland-DC
AMSAT Coordinator Pat Kilroy, WD8LAQ, for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-291.02
SEDSAT-1 READY FOR LAUNCH

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 291.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 18, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS 
BID: $ANS-291.02

Dr. Mark Maier, KF4YGR, Associate Professor at the University of
Alabama in Huntsville, tells ANS the SEDSAT-1 satellite package is
complete and scheduled for launch sometime later this month.
SEDSAT-1, signifying Students for the Exploration and Development
of Space Satellite number one, was developed at the University of
Alabama in Huntsville.

KF4YGR says the launch could occur as early as October 22nd,
although the launch range also has been reserved for October 25th
and 26th, with an extension to October 27th if needed. Originally set
for a July launch, the satellite will fly as a secondary passenger along
with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Deep Space One mission aboard
a Delta II booster.

SEDSAT-1 will include Amateur Radio configurations for digital packet
store-and-forward, analog parrot repeater and Mode A transponders.

The launch timeline is calling for a 0700 EDT launch, followed by
second stage separation and satellite deployment some 5000 seconds
later over Hawaii. SEDSAT should begin transmitting data on 432 MHz
almost immediately after deployment.

"After many years of work, the whole team --present and past-- is ready
to see SEDSAT fly and work," KF4YGR said. "SEDSAT will be a
fascinating resource for amateur radio operations, both in
communications and science collection and dissemination."

For more information on SEDSAT-1 -- visit the satellite web site at
the following URL:

http://146.229.5.181/

[ANS thanks Dr. Mark Maier, KF4YGR, and the ARRL for this
information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-291.03
ANS IN BRIEF

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 291.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 18, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS 
BID: $ANS-291.03

ANS news in brief this week includes the following:

** AMSAT-NA secretary Martha Saragovitz tells ANS the AMSAT office
will be closed October 15-20th. Martha will be in Vicksburg attending the
AMSAT-NA Space Symposium and Annual Meeting. --AMSAT-BB

** Paolo, IW3QBN, President AMSAT-Italy, tells ANS they have updated
the AMSAT-Italia web site, readable in both Italian and English,
containing general information about AMSAT Italia with links to other
AMSAT sites. Also included is information on the ARISS Project, with
drawings and photographs of the first dual-band modular transceiver
prototype displayed at the Surrey meeting last July. The web site
address is http://www.amsat-i.org --Paolo, IW3QBN

** The Indian Space Research Organization announced recently that
ISRO support for Amateur Radio services on a future satellite is likely
-- if there is sufficient enthusiasm for supporting such an idea. The ISRO
said that Amateur Radio operators in India should now be thinking in
terms of transponder design. The remarks came during HamfestIndia98
held at Bangalore in early October. --Nagesh, VU2NUD

** ESA announced Europe's newest astronaut, Andre Kuipers, at the
recently held Netherlands Space Expo. Kuipers, a medical doctor from
Amsterdam, joins the other astronauts that make up the European space
corps. He will begin training to qualify for future missions onboard the
International Space Station. --ESA

** The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft is
performing above expectations since control of the spacecraft was
recently regained. Recommissioning activities for the numerous
scientific instruments are continuing and will persist through the
remainder of October. SOHO images of two comets that recently
impacted the sun are available at the following NASA URL:
http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/comets/SOHO_sungrazers.html
--ESA, Kevin, WB5RUE

** The Central States VHF Society conference committee has
announced plans for its 1999 gathering, to be held in mid-July at
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. More information is available at the CSVHF
Web site -- http://www.csvhfs.org/. --Paul, W0UC

** Pictures from the recent Western States Weak Signal Society 1998
Gathering can be seen at http://www.amt.org/WSWSS'98/Default.htm.
--WSWSS Reflector

** A group of Amateur Radio operators in Germany are looking for
stations in the eastern U.S. who have both power and antenna array
available for direct transatlantic tests on 144 MHz (not via EME or
satellite) during 1999. If interested, e-mail Achim Breuer at
achimb@koan.de. --NN0DJ 

** Solar-system specialists from around the world met this week in
Madison, Wisconsin, for the 30th meeting of the American Astronomical
Society's Division for Planetary Sciences. Recent imaging results from
the Hubble Space Telescope and Galileo orbiter will be presented that
reveal impressive new details about outer solar-system worlds.--Sky
and Telescope News Bulletin

** An iceberg 92 miles long and 30 miles wide has broken off from the
Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Spotted by satellite, it has been given the
name A-38, based on its location. Scientists believe that icebergs
breaking off from the main ice mass may be a product of global warming.
An A-38 image is available at http://www.natice.noaa.gov. --Morrock
News Service

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-291.04
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 291.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 18, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-291.04 

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.

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.

Scott, WA6LIE, recently posted a complete set of instructions on how to
work the Mir space station on the SAREX reflector. Copies of the
instructions are available from Scott by e-mail at wa6lie@juno.com, or
by packet at wa6lie@wa6lie.#wcca.ca.usa.noam.

Bob, WB4APR, asks operators to please NOT establish station-to-
station connections via Mir -- as it is very inefficient. Bob suggests
sending UI packet frames instead, saying that it is much better for
everyone AND many stations can then complete a normal QSO
during a Mir pass.

[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	
Last reported in mode T.

RS-13
Uplink  21.260 MHz to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB 
Uplink  145.960 MHz to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB	
Downlink  29.460 MHz to 29.500 MHz CW/SSB 
Downlink 145.960 to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB	
Beacon 29.504 MHz	
Robot  Uplink 21.140 MHz  Downlink 29.458 MHz	
Last reported in mode K.

The RS-12 satellite has seen many recent changes in operation during
the past weeks. Modes K, T, KT and simultaneous RS-13 operation
have all been reported by a number of stations.

No official word from the satellite controllers has been received.
ANS recommends monitoring each satellite carefully to determine the
transponder in operation and which mode it is operating in.

Cristi, YO3FFF, reports working throughout Europe via RS-13 mode K.
Bill, K6AKO, reports he has not heard the RS-12 beacon for some
Time. Peter, KD7MW, tells ANS has recently copied the RS-12 robot.

RS-12/13 command is now in the hands of Alex Papkov, in
Kaluga City, Russia.

RS-15
Uplink 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/SSB	
Downlink 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/SSB 	
Beacon  29.352 MHz  (intermittent)	
Semi-operational, mode A, using a 2-meter uplink and a 10-meter
downlink.

Dave, WB6LLO, reports he has prepared a "quick and dirty" set of
operating instructions for RS-15 at the following URL:

http://users.aol.com/dguimont

OSCAR 10  AO-10
Uplink 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB	
Downlink 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB	
Beacon 145.810 MHz (unmodulated carrier)	
Semi-operational, mode B, currently in 'sleep' mode. AO-10 is locked
into a 70-cm uplink and a 2-meter downlink.

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, mode J.

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 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-1b  FO-20
Uplink 145.900 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB	
Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB	
Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously.

[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status 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 and
the satellite will remain in voice mode. FO-29 has entered a period of
'full illumination' by the Sun. This illumination period will extend through
the end of December.

John, K2JF, reports (from FM29lr) that he received good signals from
F0-29 during orbit 10637.

[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-291.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 291.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 18, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-291.05

KITSAT  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]

KITSAT  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.

Two new WOD software packages have recently added to the Oscar 11
web site. The first package enables various WOD channels to be
compared with the solar eclipse status of the satellite. The second
package compares measured and calculated magnetic fields
encountered by Oscar 11. Both packages are of an advanced nature,
users will need experience using the other WOD packages on the web
site along with a spread-sheet program.

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. Test periods will run each Tuesday from
0000 to 2359 UTC.

The telemetry is nominal. 

Time is Fri Oct 16 23:01:25 1998  uptime is 1489/17:26:23
+X (RX) Temp    -7.263 D    RX Temp          6.654 D	
Bat 1 V          1.267 V  Bat 2 V          1.290 V	
Bat 3 V          1.287 V  Bat 4 V          1.287 V	
Bat 5 V          1.306 V  Bat 6 V          1.314 V	
Bat 7 V          1.290 V  Bat 8 V          1.299 V	
RC PSK TX Out    0.534 W	
Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.399 Ifb= 0.193 I+10V= 0.227
TX:010B BCR:1E PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:2C

General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at:

http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu

[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report]

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 ground control
station LU8DYF has succeeded in regaining control of the satellite.
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.

EA1BCU reminds operators the digipeater mode is "a very interesting
option to make contacts with other stations, or to be connected with your
own station to evaluate the on-line the state of your installation."

The telemetry is as follows:

Time is Fri Oct 16 21:36:07 1998 uptime is 077/07:58:31.
Bat 1 V          1.345 V  Bat 2 V          1.350 V	
Bat 3 V          1.357 V  Bat 4 V          1.350 V	
Bat 5 V          1.353 V  Bat 6 V          1.379 V	
Bat 7 V          1.346 V  Bat 8 V          1.342 V	
RC PSK TX Out    0.644 W	
Total Array C= 0.008 Bat Ch Cur=-0.267 Ifb= 0.122 I+10V= 0.155
TX:017 BCR:1E PWRC:62D BT:3C WC: 0

General information and telemetry samples can find at:

http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/lo19.htm

[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 received 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.

[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]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-291.06    
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 3

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 291.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 18, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-291.06

THE FOLLOWING SATELLITES ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS
TIME:

RS-16
Attempts to command the mode A transponder 'on' have been
unsuccessful to date. At this time the RS-16 transponder is
non-operational. The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational.

No additional information is available at this time.

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 reported to be in MBL mode after a software crash.

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	



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