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[jamsat-news:982] ANS 340
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 340
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 News Service mailing list (ANS) is from the
AMSAT.ORG system administered by AMSAT-NA.
Currently, AMSAT-NA mailing lists cover the following topics:
* AMSAT News Service (ANS)
* General satellite discussion (AMSAT-BB)
* Orbit data (KEPS)
* Manned space missions (SAREX)
* District of Columbia area (AMSAT-DC)
* New England (AMSAT-NE)
More information is available at the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/listserv/menu.html
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-340.01
ISS CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY!
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 340.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 06, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-340.01
ANS is pleased to report that construction of the International Space
Station is underway as five Americans and one Russian successfully
lifted off aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour from the Kennedy Space
Center with the first American-built component of the station -- a
connecting module named Unity -- in the shuttle cargo bay. According to
NASA, the shuttle's climb to orbit was flawless. Following the smooth
launch, Commander Bob Cabana, Pilot Rick Sturckow and Mission
Specialists Nancy Currie, Jerry Ross, Jim Newman and Sergei Krikalev
began preparing the orbiter for 12 days of operations to begin ISS
construction.
The STS-88 launch will begin the largest cooperative space construction
project in human history as Endeavour linked with the U.S.-funded and
Russian-built Zarya control module. Zarya was recently launched from
the Baikanour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and has been circling the
Earth since November 20th as flight controllers initially checked out the
spacecraft. All systems aboard Zarya, which will provide the initial control
and command capabilities for the space station, continue to function well
with the minor exception of one of six battery charging systems. NASA
tells ANS that Endeavour is carrying replacement parts for the system in
the event they are needed.
AMSAT Area Coordinator Pat Kilroy, WD8LAQ, reported spotting
Endeavour right after launch -- from his Bowie, Maryland front yard. "The
light from the shuttle main engines appeared like a reddish-white star,"
said WD8LAQ, adding "the 'star' then dimmed and disappeared right at
the time NASA announced main engine cut off (MECO)."
With the Russian-built Zarya Control Module orbiting about 16,000
nautical miles in front of Endeavour, Mission Specialist Nancy Currie first
checked out the 50-foot-long robot arm that she would use to grapple the
Unity connecting module. Following the successful test, Currie gently
mated the 12.8-ton Unity connecting module to Endeavour's docking
system, completing the first task in assembling the new International
Space Station. Following this success, Endeavour's astronauts
continued the assembly of the ISS late Sunday, mating the Russian-built
Zarya control module with the U.S.-built Unity connecting module in the
shuttle's cargo bay. This very important step followed a flawless
rendezvous and grapple of Zarya.
The two ISS elements, Zarya and Unity, are now connected together --
creating the foundation for the new station. More than 100 elements will
be added over the next five years, requiring a total of 45 assembly flights
using the shuttle and two types of Russian launchers.
The two connected modules have a solar array span of about 78 feet
and a combined mass of approximately 80,000 pounds. Several
spacewalks will now follow the mating of Unity with Zarya, for initial crew
entry into the new station and to connect power and data cables between
the modules.
Amateur Radio aboard ISS begins with final flight qualification of the
ARISS interim station expected to be completed this month. This
station will allow the crew to operate on voice, packet and digital voice
beacons at the beginning of station habitation in mid-1999.
Endeavour is orbiting the Earth at an altitude of about 240 statute miles.
The following is a two-line orbital element set for STS-88:
STS-88
1 25549U 98069A 98341.83556482 .00002702 00000-0 32967-4 0 143
2 25549 51.5938 79.1572 0009100 273.3808 220.7453 15.59743724 561
TDRS Tracking and Data Relay satellites handle all shuttle ground-to-air
communications. The easiest way to follow shuttle communications and
activities is NASA Select TV, which can be viewed from several sources
including the Internet. Two of the web sites that feature NASA Select TV
are:
http://www.shuttle.nasa.gov/realdata/index.html
http://www.broadcast.com/events/nasa
[ANS thanks NASA and ESA for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-340.02
SIMSAT PROGRAM RECEIVES NASA AWARD
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 340.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 06, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-340.02
AMSAT Area Coordinator Pat Kilroy, WD8LAQ, tells ANS that the
Simulated Satellite (SimSat) Project recently won a NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center Director's Discretionary Fund (DDF) award. The
Simulated Satellite project is an educational outreach program at
NASA-GSFC.
According to Pat, "the award is good news for students and Amateur
Radio alike." WD8LAQ reports the award includes funding (for the
'99 fiscal year) a university student engineer --working full time during
the upcoming summer months helping further develop SimSat
hardware-- and at least one (and possibly more) teachers --helping to
further develop the educational side of the SimSat program.
Pat recalls the original concept of SimSat was born during a local
AMSAT-DC meeting. WD8LAQ and others were looking for a local
project, admiring the balloon success of Andy MacAllister, W5ACM, Bill
Brown, WB8ELK and Chuck Crist, WB9IHS. "The dream, " Pat said, "was
wanting to do something bigger and better for student education -- all in
a spirit of wholesome competition." The result was the SimSat program
was born, based on the idea that designing, building and then flying,
operating and recovering payloads by balloon is a great stepping stone
for helping youngsters learn about Oscar satellites.
The NASA Director's Discretionary Fund award means there is ample
opportunity for Amateur Radio operators to participate in ham radio
balloon flights and to share the fun with students.
WD8LAQ tells AMSAT News Service that he will update ANS on the
exciting developments that the DDF award will bring to the SimSat
program in the future.
For general information and the latest updates about the program, visit
the SimSat web site at:
http://garc.gsfc.nasa.gov/~simsat
Information on how the DDF award process works can be found at the
following URL:
http://ddf.gsfc.nasa.gov/
[ANS congratulates Pat Kilroy, WD8LAQ, and the SimSat team on the
announcement of the NASA DDF award]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-340.03
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 340.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 06, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-340.03
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** ANS was saddened to learn that Sylvia Saragovitz, the mother of
AMSAT-NA secretary Martha Saragovitz, died recently. Funeral services
were held at the King David Memorial Park, Falls Church, Virginia with
W3PK, W4PUJ, K1HTV, W3OTC, and W4ART representing Martha's
many AMSAT friends worldwide. For those who sent messages to
Martha, she was very deeply touched and grateful to every one of you.
Those who have asked about the family's wishes concerning charitable
contributions and other expressions of sympathy can contact Art,
W4ART --by e-mail at w4art@amsat.org-- for more information.
--Art, W4ART
** AMSAT Journal Editor K5NRK tells ANS the January/February issue
will feature several great articles --Homebrew Ionosphere, the Rosman
Antenna, US/Mir QSL Card Series, APRS and Outer Space, and the
Texas Potato Masher: A Medium Gain Directional Antenna for LEO
Satellites-- are just some of the featured articles in addition to the regular
news and information pieces. The Jan/Feb '99 issue of the AMSAT
Journal should be in member mailboxes by early February.
--Russ, K5NRK
** Houston AMSAT Area Coordinator Bruce, KK5DO, reports everything
is now in place for the Houston AMSAT Net to move to a C-band satellite
feed. The telephone line for the equipment to uplink to GE-1, using
Transponder 12 (5.7 MHz audio) is in place and recent tests were
successful. For more information, visit the KK5DO/Houston AMSAT Net
web site at http://www.amsatnet.com. --Bruce, KK5DO
** Chris, KH2PM, has a new web site that features a review and pictures
of his AO-27 Arrow antenna setup, along with RS-18 information. Check
out his site at the following URL: http://www.qsl.net/kh2pm/. --AMSAT-BB
** Do you wonder where do those 'funny' grid square letter and number
combinations come from? Bruce, KK5DO, and John, KD6PAG, provide
the answer -- at a conference in Maidenhead, England many years ago
an international group decided this type of location system should be
used in place of the older QRA locator system. The old system had
(possible) duplicate locations outside Europe. The six character
Maidenhead grid square is basically an abbreviation for a small
rectangle of longitude and latitude. Grid squares are now commonly
exchanged between Amateur Radio satellite operators to pinpoint QTH
locations. --AMSAT-BB
** Need to know your grid square? Check out the AMSAT-NA web
site for an easy-to-use link that will pinpoint your exact grid
square and location. Check out the following URL for more information:
http://www.amsat.org/cgi-bin/gridconv. --AMSAT-BB
** Francisco, CT1EAT, reflects on the SAREX 15th Anniversary -- "It
must have been something unique, to participate in the beginning of
a new age in amateur space communications! I can easily say the
SAREX program has given me not only the best moments of my amateur
life, but of ALL my life! To all who worked to make it possible, many
thanks!" --SAREX Reflector
** Bob, WB4APR, recently used APRS and GPS to track the Army/Navy
game football during the traditional 'delivery' of the game ball from
Annapolis to the football stadium. Bob reports his group even had SSTV
and retrieved 'live' shots of all the action -- via Amateur Radio.
--AMSAT-BB
** ANS has QSL information for W98ITU. If you worked the special
event station on any of the analog or digital birds you can QSL to the
following address; Paul Beckmann, WA0RSE -- 1882 South Lane
Mendota Heights, MN 55118. --AMSAT-BB
** NASA's Deep Space 1 is finally on its way at full speed. DS-1
--launched on October 24th-- is the first spacecraft to use a
beam of electrically accelerated xenon ions as its main propulsion
system. The craft is expected to use this 'ion drive' to modify its
orbit around the Sun. The engine ran smoothly during a recent test,
answering a command to increase thrust. --Sky and Telescope
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-340.04
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 340.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 06, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-340.04
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, has a set of instructions on how to work the Mir space
station. 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.
[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 to be semi-operational, beacon only.
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 (from Jerry, K5OE).
The RS-12/13 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.
John, KJ6HZ, reports a "RS-13 horizon-to-horizon" chat with Don,
W8TRX. Jerry, K5OE, Alan, WB4YCN, and Bill, KA7YAO, all report
activity on the satellite.
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.
Bill, KA7YAO, reports recently hearing WA4SIE on the RS-15 downlink.
Jeff, KB2WQM, tells ANS he recently copied his own RS-15 downlink and
will be working on his uplink to improve his signal through the satellite.
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
RS-18/Sputnik 41
Downlink 145.812 MHz FM
Russian cosmonauts successfully launched RS-18/Sputnik 41 on
November 10, 1998, during a spacewalk from the Mir space station.
The spacecraft is just under 8 inches in diameter, weighs almost 9
pounds and carries a 200-mW transmitter. RS-18 has no solar cells and
the expected operational lifetime is approximately 30 days.
Recent RS-18 reception reports have been received from SP6QPK.
The satellite was even copied by ANS editor NN0DJ, who was mobile
at the time!
Hank, N1LTV, tells ANS he has put together a 'Sputnik-41 Telemetry
Assistant' software program that may be of help to those monitoring
RS-18. The software tacks the internal temperature of the spacecraft,
recording the report in Fahrenheit and/or Celsius rounded to a tenth of
a degree. The free program is available for downloading at:
http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/3161/hablic.htm
Sputnik 41 information is available at the following URL:
http://www.ccr.jussieu.fr/physio/f6bvp/
A computer .wav file of the actual received signal can also be found at:
http://www.ik1sld.org/sputnik41.htm
Gerard, F6FAO, suggests the following address for RS-18 QSL
requests:
AMSAT-France
RS-18 QSL Manager
14 bis rue des Gourlis
92 500 Rueil-Malmaison
France
The list of received QSL's by the French QSL manager is available at the
following link (note: the list changes daily as cards are received):
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ascerland/sp41QSL.htm
RS-18 temperature reports are being requested by F6FAO. Date, UTC
time, frequency of tone, name and grid square location should be
included in the report. Stations may e-mail this information to:
f6fao@amsat.org
[ANS thanks Gerard Auvray, F6FAO, for this information]
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)
Operational, mode B, currently in 'sleep' mode.
AO-10 is locked into a 70-cm uplink and a 2-meter downlink.
Nick, W0CA, recently reactivated his AO-10 station and reports a nice
roundtable QSO with VE5FN, KF4FDJ and KD2JF. He then worked
Xaever, F6FXU. Jeff, KO6RD, reports AO-10 has been working
extremely well with 17 recent contacts (15 from Europe with some
signals reaching S-9 or better). Jerry, K5OE, has been active as has
Frank, PE1KNL, John, K6YK, Selva, 9V1UV, and Dejan, 9A4ZD.
AO-10 continues to function well with the exception of the periodic deep
QSB, which can be partially eliminated by switching antenna polarization.
Strong signals have been heard even at apogee. Also note that AO-10's
apogee is approaching its most northern point (ArgP = 270). This gives
the satellite track on a rectangular (Mercator) map projection a distinctly
symmetrical pattern. The apogee will begin a slow migration southward.
W4SM tells ANS that he has, using ranging software (and hardware)
developed by James Miller, G3RUH, recently made ranging
measurements on AO-10 and have fed these measurements into an
algorithm, which generates modified Keplerian elements from a "seed"
set of elements. The Keplerian elements generated appear to be
accurate within 16-25 km.
Note: This element set may have to be entered by hand or cut and
pasted line by line into a tracking program, rather than automatically
extracted. They are not in the complete AMSAT format, orbit#
(Epoch rev), Element set#, and Checksum are not included.
Satellite: AO-10
Catalog number: 14129
Epoch time: 98334.41402
Inclination: 26.8570 deg
RA of node: 56.2190 deg
Eccentricity: 0.59993
Arg of perigee: 269.7500 deg
Mean anomaly: 218.2590 deg
Mean motion: 2.05837914 rev/day
Decay rate: 0.00 rev/day^2
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.
The TEPR settings of AO-27 were recently reset by Chuck, KM4NZ. The
new settings now reflect the Earth's position during the northern
fall/winter season, and should provide more satellite 'on' time for AO-27
during each pass.
Jeff, KF4KGQ, tells ANS he was "more excited than the day I got my
drivers license" after making a contact on AO-27 using his handheld.
Jeff reports that much of his AO-27 information came from ANS and the
AMSAT-BB.
[ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, for AO-27 information]
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.
Peter, NH6VB, in BL01 on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, has been active
on FO-20 and FO-29 recently. Bill, KA7YAO, is a new operator to both
FO-20 and FO-29 using a FT-847 and yagi antennas. Bill thanks Jerry,
K5OE, Randy, N7IFF, and Brent, N6EMI, for help with the FO birds.
[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 the FO-29 Command Team has released
the following announcement concerning FO-29 status:
The present JA mode of operation will continue to investigate the
frequency of bit errors in the on-board-computer. Reports from Amateurs
on the value of channel 2A are appreciated. The position of 2A is the
fifth item after 'HI HI' in CW telemetry. The normal value is '00'. Reports
should be sent to lab@jarl.or.jp.
FO-29 is still in 'full sun illumination'; this should end in December.
The on-board-computer (OBC) did accept commands from ground
control before full illumination began. The FO-29 Command Team says
digital (JD) mode operation may be available soon. Digi-talker operation
is also being planned.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-340.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 340.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 06, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-340.05
KITSAT KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Operational.
Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-23 downlink response has been very good.
AA7KC uses the WiSP tracking program and TAPR radio and antenna
control.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for KO-23 status information]
KITSAT KO-25
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 436.50 MHz FM
Operational.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for KO-25 status information]
UO-22
Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.120 MHz FM
Operational. No additional information is available at this time.
ANS has not received any recent updates concerning the current status
of UO-22.
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.
Clive, G3CWV, reports an uneventful month for OSCAR-11. Telemetry
has been nominal.
The mode-S beacon is on, transmitting an unmodulated carrier, however
telemetry indicates that it has partially failed -- delivering half power.
This beacon is a useful test source for those testing mode-S converters
prior to the launch of P3D. The 435.025 MHz beacon is normally off.
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 spreadsheet 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.
General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at:
http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu
A graphic summary of the October WOD survey transmitted by
AO-16, including spin-rate, rotation, voltage, current and other
parameters -- can be found at:
http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/wod1998.zip
[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, EA1BCU, reports downlink signals show good modulation. The
satellite is transmitting an ASCII message containing the following text:
No BBS service. On Board Computer reload in progress.
Digipeater active. Thank you - Norberto - LU8DYF.
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.
ANS has not received any recent updates concerning the status
of IO-26. No additional information is available at this time.
TMSAT-1 TO-31
Uplink 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 436.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
TMSAT-1 is now open for general access by Amateur Radio operators
worldwide. TMSAT commissioning has been completed and shows that
most of the spacecraft systems are operating correctly. Normal access
will allow operators to use the store and forward communications on the
spacecraft and also download the high-resolution multispectral images.
It is hoped Amateur Radio operators will take advantage of the high-
resolution multispectral images available from TO-31 and keep other
traffic to a minimum. Due to current limitations with on-board memory,
images will only be available on the satellite for a few days after they are
taken. Software to display the thumbnail images from the WAC (Wide
Angle Camera) will be released shortly.
Testing will continue and access may be limited to command stations
only. If at any time the BBS is in a 'SHUT' mode as displayed in WiSP (or
any of the digital programs), do not attempt to access the satellite as it
may delay any command string that is underway.
Francisco, CT1EAT, reports he has successfully connected with TO-31,
receiving a S-7 (peaking S-9) signal from the satellite. Other reports of
successful TO-31 operation have been received from Rick, KB0VBZ,
Gilbert, N3RZN, and John, G0ORX.
A set of TO-31 orbital elements has been received from G7UPN:
TMSAT-1
1 25395U 98043 B 98328.21943061 -.00000045 00000-0 00000-0 0 872
2 25395 98.7827 37.8397 0001975 294.4856 65.6119 14.22294128 19489
[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 in the future.
ANS has not received any recent updates concerning the current status
of GO-32. No additional information is available at this time.
The satellite does not have a continuos beacon, but does transmit a
9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (for a continuous 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-340.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 3
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 340.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 06, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-340.06
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
AMSAT-NA Vice President/Public Affairs
Amateur callsign: NN0DJ
Grid Square EN28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
e-mail: nn0dj@amsat.org
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