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[jamsat-news:1024] * SpaceNews 08-Feb-99 *
SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0208
* SpaceNews 08-Feb-99 *
BID: $SPC0208
=========
SpaceNews
=========
MONDAY FEBRUARY 8, 1999
SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It
is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use.
* ARISS NEWS *
==============
A series of extremely successful International Space Station (ISS)
Amateur Radio accommodation meetings were held at the NASA Johnson
Space Center in Houston from January 22-27. These pivotal meetings
were sponsored by NASA and by Energia, the Russian space company
that is building portions of ISS.
The primary objectives of these meetings were to finalize the design
development of the "Initial Station" amateur radio hardware for ISS and
to develop a more effective understanding and advocacy of the Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program within NASA
and Energia.
In addition to representatives from NASA and Energia, the ARISS "Initial
Station" hardware development teams from the US, Russia, Germany and
Italy were invited to participate in the meetings. The Initial Station
design, solidified during the July 1998 ARISS meeting in Surrey,
England, consists of 2 meter and 70 cm handheld transceivers, a packet
radio system and power supplies, provided by the US team, a Digitalker,
provided by the German team, antenna feedthroughs and power and space
accommodations provided by the Russian team and the development of an
antenna system which is led by the Italian delegation. NASA will be
providing a Space Shuttle launch to transport the Initial Station
hardware to the ISS and has financially supported the flight
qualification of the Initial Station Hardware. Some of the testing
required by NASA and Energia to flight qualify this hardware includes
the development of a safety analysis package, hardware performance
testing, ISS interface testing, electromagnetic interference testing,
and toxic chemical offgassing testing. Both NASA and Energia are
intimately involved in the external outfitting of the planned
antennas systems through special astronaut spacewalks or EVAs.
The following ARISS team members from various IARU and AMSAT
organizations were invited to attend and participate in these meetings:
Sergej Samburov, RV3DR, Representing Energia, AMSAT-Russia and ARISS-Russia
Ron Parise, WA4SIR, Representing the ARISS-US Hardware Delegation
Lou McFadin, W5DID, Representing the ARISS-US Hardware Delegation
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, Representing NASA, AMSAT-NA, and ARISS-US
Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL, Representing NASA and ARISS-US
Thomas Kieselbach, DL2MDE, Representing the ARISS-German Hardware Delegation
Alberto Zagni, I2KBD, Representing the ARISS-Italian Hardware Delegation
Fabrizio Bernardini, I0QIT, Representing the ARISS-Italian Hardware Delegation
Luca Bertagnolio, IK2OVV, Representing the ARISS-Italian Hardware Delegation
During the meeting, Sergej Samburov, RV3DR, the President of
AMSAT-Russia in Moscow and the Chief of the Cosmonaut Amateur Radio
Department at Energia, confirmed that 4 dual-use antenna feedthroughs
have been installed on the Russian Service Module. These dual-use
feedthroughs are expected to support amateur radio operations and ISS
proximity video capability during Russian and US spacewalks. He also
confirmed his strong desire to work with the ARISS international
partners to develop a single, coordinated amateur radio station on ISS.
Key NASA official stated that they, too, need a single, international
focal point to coordinate amateur radio development and operations on
ISS if amateur radio on ISS is to have a future. During the meeting,
these NASA officials were extremely pleased with the high level of
flight hardware expertise and on-orbit operations knowledge that the
ARISS international partners are providing to NASA and Energia. The
ARISS international team was formed over two years ago to provide
this single focal point to the space officials at NASA (US), Energia
(Russia), NASDA (Japan) and ESA (Europe).
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT-NA's Vice President for Human Spaceflight
Programs, commented, "I was extremely impressed with the tremendous
teamwork, camaraderie and cooperation that the ARISS International
Partners exhibited during these pivotal meetings with NASA and Energia.
Together we share a common vision to develop and operate a multifaceted
amateur radio station on ISS that will be a great recreational outlet
for the on-orbit crews, an exciting DXpedition station for hams on
the ground and an outstanding educational outreach tool for students."
In the near future, additional information from these meetings will
be provided including discussions on:
ARISS Initial Configuration & Delivery Schedule to ISS
Antenna System Design
Antenna Locations on Service Module and initial plans for ARISS EVAs
Meetings with NASA Senior Managers
Digitalker design
ARISS Frequencies
Future installation of an SSTV system
Express Pallet opportunities
The ARISS hardware team discussed and reaffirmed their long planned
commitment to solicit proposals from the amateur radio community to
develop follow-on amateur radio hardware for ISS. Proposals chosen to
proceed forward would then be coordinated through a NASA/Energia
employee-based radio working group that would negotiate power, volume
and operations scenarios for the proposed equipment. The ARISS
international team is composed of representatives from the IARU and
AMSAT societies in Russia, Italy, Germany, England, France, Canada,
Japan and the US. The Space Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) Working
Group provides the US hardware and administrative representation to
the ARISS international team. Within the US, they coordinate the US
hardware development, operations and educational outreach
activities for the ARRL, AMSAT-NA and NASA.
[Info via Frank Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS-US Delegation]
* SUNSAT/ARGOS/ORSTED LAUNCH NEWS *
===================================
Following an investigation into the 1999-Jan-28 engine shutdown of a
Delta II during a launch attempt of the ARGOS satellite, the Boeing
launch team determined that a propellant valve on vernier engine number
two failed to open on command. This caused the engine shutdown and
initiation of the autosafe mechanism on the launch vehicle.
The valves on both vernier engines have been removed and replaced
and the launch team is preparing for a 1999-Feb-07 launch attempt.
The 30-minute launch window opens at 2:39 a.m. PST (1039 UTC).
The first stage of a Delta II has a main engine and two vernier engines.
Vernier engines are small rocket motors that allow the vehicle to be
steered during flight. During the engine start sequence, the two vernier
engines are required to ignite prior to ignition of the main engine.
The main engine and two vernier engines were automatically shut down at
approximately T-0 when it was detected that one of the vernier engines
had failed to ignite. All vehicle safing systems performed as designed
and expected.
The ARGOS launch has two NASA-sponsored secondary payloads, Orsted and
SUNSAT. These scientific satellites will be the first launched by
Denmark and South Africa, respectively. There was no impact to any
of the spacecraft systems as a result of the on-pad abort of the launch.
There will be a live broadcast of the launch beginning at 2:30 a.m. PST
through spacecraft separation on: GE 2C, transponder 6, located at 85
degrees west, uplink frequency 6045 MHz (vertical), downlink frequency
3820 MHz (horizontal).
[Info via Brian Webb, KD6NRP]
* SKN 1999 RESULTS *
====================
AMSAT-NA's 27th annual Straight Key Night on OSCAR, held 1 January 1999,
was quite a success, with lots of fun had by all.
Here is this year's list of Best Fist winners. Each amateur listed received
one or more nominations: G3RWL, KB1SF, K7RR, K9CIS, NM1K, N0IBT, OK2AQK, W3JIM.
Our thanks to all who took part. We hope you're able to join us for the
28th annual event on 1 January 2000. Please be sure, though, to run your
orbital predictions beforehand. We hope the Y2K bug doesn't strike your
computer, but even if it does, there's always the old reliable straight
key!
[Info via Ray Soifer, W2RS]
* THANKS! *
===========
Thansk to all who recently sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews,
especially:
LX2JD KB4NVD KC4ZGP PA5UL
* FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED *
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Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor
(John, KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below:
WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
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