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[jamsat-news:1048] ANS 073
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 073
ANS is a free weekly news and information service of AMSAT North
America, 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.
AMSAT-NA is pleased to announce that recent and future development
in amateur radio satellites will be presented in San Diego, California
--October 8-11, 1999-- at the 17th Space Symposium and
AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting. More information is available from
Symposium chair, Duane Naugle, KO6BT, at:
ko6bt@amsat.org
Information on AMSAT-NA is available at the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org (or)
AMSAT-NA
850 Sligo Avenue, Suite 600
Silver Spring, Maryland
20910-4703
Voice: 301-589-6062
FAX: 301-608-3410
Currently, AMSAT-NA supports the following free mailing lists:
* 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)
* AMSAT Educational Liaison mailing list (AMSAT-EDU)
To subscribe, or for more list information, visit the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/listserv/menu.html
This ANS bulletin set is dedicated to the memory of former ANS
editor -- BJ Arts, WT0N.
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-073.01
AMSAT JEWELRY CONTEST
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 073.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 14, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-073.01
With preparations for the 17th Space Symposium and AMSAT-NA
Annual Meeting in San Diego well underway, Dave, WB6LLO, informed
ANS that the 7th Annual AMSAT Jewelry Contest, a long time favorite
during past Symposiums, will again take place this year.
Dave tells ANS that although San Diego is well known for its air and sea
military presence, satellite operators worldwide feel that the "pen is
mightier than the sword -- hence, the 'Pen-tenna' will be the jewelry
contest piece this year."
According to WB6LLO, think of the 'Pen-tenna' as "desk jewelry." The
'Pen-tenna' is a very ordinary style inverted-V antenna constructed from
two stainless and gold plated Parker pens. The pens are removable
and usable. The 'elements' are 6-15/32" long and a nominal 9/32" in
diameter. They subtend at an angle of 108 degrees. A modified BNC tee
provides a connection for the 'elements'. Copper and brass tubing form
the penholder/element attachment. The modified BNC is encapsulated in
a cast resin base that is about five by six inches in size. Various IC's are
'floating' in the base along with an AMSAT logo.
The contest is to determine the resonant frequency of the 'Pen-tenna'!
According to WB6LLO the "frequency band is obvious, but the exact
frequency will determine the winner."
"The person who determines the exact frequency in megahertz will be
declared the winner, and the winner will be announced at the
Symposium banquet," said WB6LLO. Attendance at the banquet or the
Symposium is not a requirement to win; anyone can enter -- but only one
entry per person is allowed.
If not attending the Symposium the deadline for an official entry is
1-October-99. For those attending the Symposium the deadline is
1500 UTC on Saturday, October 9th.
Entries (and questions) may be sent to : wb6llo@amsat.org (or)
Dave Guimont WB6LLO
5030 July Street
San Diego, California
92110-1112
A description of the 'Pen-tenna' along with details can be found at:
http://members.aol.com/dguimont
[ANS thanks Dave Guimont, WB6LLO, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-073.02
2001 LAUNCH PLANNED FOR CANADIAN SATELLITE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 073.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 14, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-073.02
(Please note - portions of this story are used with permission of the
Toronto Star newspaper)
From the very beginning, Canada's next-generation satellite has been
audacious. It's no larger than a microwave oven, yet it will tackle a
scientific controversy of cosmic proportions - the age of the universe -
using the world's smallest space telescope. It's scheduled to be launched
by the end of 2001, although not one circuit board has yet been put
together. And the outside experts advising on the satellite design and
construction are all amateurs.
But the most audacious part may be the birthplace. This quick, cheap
and small marvel was conceived and is being nurtured in a bursting-at-
the-seams suite of second-floor offices, up the stairs next to a Japanese
restaurant. Welcome to Dynacon Enterprises Ltd., where cutting-edge
technology beat out two bidders to get the nod from the Canadian
Space Agency for the first in Canada's planned series of science
micro-satellites. The satellite is called MOST, an acronym
for Microvariability and Oscillations of STars project.
"The small satellite field is growing while the large satellite field is
shrinking,'' says Kieran Carroll, Dynacon's manager of space projects
and MOST sparkplug. "We are thinking very much about defining the
market niche where we can compete and excel.''
Dynacon has its eye on the full program of as many as 10 micro-
satellites that the Canadian Space Agency is planning. And it has an
unexpected partner in this ambitious plan - the University of
Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies.
At the institute, Robert Zee shows a visitor around a modest construction
zone that will soon become the test and assembly area for the satellite
and, eventually, also house the main ground station. "We're quite excited
about MOST,'' he says.
So are the graduate students here, most only a few years younger than
Zee, who manages the space flight laboratory. The institute is already
the only place in Canada to study spacecraft design and it's now about to
add hands-on spacecraft construction to the curriculum.
Inside the 50-kilogram suitcase satellite is the world's smallest space
telescope, with an aperture only a little bigger across than a CD. It is
supposed to keep the same star in sight for at least seven weeks so a
super-sensitive light meter can record variations in brightness as faint as
one part in a million.
The crucial expertise in fine-tuning the satellite is being provided free
of charge by, of all people, ham radio operators. Not just any old
operator, however, but ones who have had a hand in designing and
building more than three dozen satellites since the 1960s. Quietly, with
minimal recognition, the U.S. volunteers in the Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation have charted the technological path for today's
constellations of commercial communications satellites.
About a dozen of the American amateur satellites are still operating
today, acting as orbiting repeater stations for ham operators. And many
more are in orbit built by Russian radio amateurs.
As the American operators proudly point out, they did it cheaply by
keeping it simple. The flexible steel used for carpenter's rules springs out
into antennas on their satellites. Surplus stores are scoured for suitable
electronic components. "What we teach are ways of doing things, ways
of thinking about spacecraft design,'' says Keith Baker, North American
president of AMSAT the abbreviation for the non-profit corporation.
The radio operators share their expertise for two reasons. Education is
part of the corporation's mandate and students often support the cause
after graduation.
And if there's a tiny corner available, the ham operators will be allowed to
tuck an amateur radio package into MOST.
[ANS thanks the Toronto Star and Science Reporter Peter Calamai
for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-073.03
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 073.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 14, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-073.03
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** AMSAT Net of the week: Cowley County Kansas VHF AMSAT
Satellite Net. This nets meets each Sunday on the Cowley County
145.190 MHz repeater. NCS is N5SMJ with N0ZHE and WB0VZW as
backup NCS stations. Repeater coverage is from Wichita to the north
and Blackwell, Oklahoma to the south. N5SMJ tells ANS that his group
"has traveled to Wichita and the Kansas State ARRL Convention for the
past two years and set up a full satellite station, also doing the same at
the Salina, Kansas hamfest."
** Quote of the week: "Remember the AMSAT-EDU Educational Liaison
mailing list". The quote comes from Perry, W3PK. The AMSAT EDU
discussion list is an open forum to discuss the technical issues on the
design, construction, and operation of amateur satellite projects at
educational institutions, to link schools with one another to discuss the
technical details about their projects, and to discuss curriculum
development and the promotion of amateur satellites in the classroom.
** AMSAT-NA President KB1SF reports that AMSAT will again be
represented at the Dayton Hamvention, both with an AMSAT booth and
dedicated satellite forums. Stay tuned to ANS for details. Gerd, WB8IFM,
has started a list for the annual AMSAT dinner at Dayton (this year being
held on May 14th). If planning to attend contact Gerd by e-mail at:
G.Schrick@worldnet.att.net. --ANS
** Bruce, KK5DO, tells ANS that the Cosmos Award has been achieved
by Mike, N1JEZ, Robert, KB4NVD and Bob, WE1U. Qualifications
include 100, 200 or 300 contacts (with QSL cards in hand) on LEO
satellites. KK5DO sends the information to Karen, RA3APW, and his wife
Natalie, RW3ABI, to carry to the Central Radio Club in Moscow for
processing. Congratulations to the newest winners of the award.
--Bruce, KK5DO
** In an effort to win the Brendan VHF Trophy, a group in Europe is
attempting to make the first direct transatlantic VHF contact between
Europe and North America. More information is available at the following
URL: http://place.to.be/on4aob. --Joost, ON2BBP
** Florida Today is reporting that a key Russian piece for the ISS might
not be launched until late this year, causing still more trouble for the
project. The 21-ton Russian Service Module is now scheduled for liftoff
no sooner than September, but might fly as late as November or even
December. Space station planners will know more April 15th when U.S.
and Russian counterparts hold a general progress review. The problems
will further scramble NASA's shuttle launch schedule at Kennedy Space
Center, where three station missions are planned this year.
--Florida Today
** NASA's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, has been officially
renamed the John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, in honor of
the pioneering astronaut and former U.S. Senator. NASA Administrator
Daniel Goldin announced the name change recently. Besides the fact
that Glenn is an Ohio native, all of the Mercury astronauts did part of
their training at the facility. --S&T
** The Hubble orbiting telescope has developed a problem with a
gyroscope that could shut it down if the unit is not replaced in the months
ahead. The telescope needs three gyroscopes to operate, and two of its
six have failed. Loss of a fourth would shut down the device. NASA
already had planned a June 2000 mission to service Hubble, but now the
agency is planning an emergency mission for October to change out
the telescope's defective gyroscopes. A space-walking repair crew
already is in training for the mission -- it includes astronauts Steve Smith,
Michael Foale, Claude Nicollier and John Grunsfeld. --Florida Today
** An update to our AMSAT anniversary report in CQ-VHF. Editor
Rich Moseson, W2VU, says he was planning to run an AMSAT
anniversary article in the magazine's March issue, but that the article
didn't come together in time for the issue deadline. Stay tuned to ANS for
more details. --ANS thanks Rich, W2VU for this information.
** The first mission in a new program aimed at finding life elsewhere in
the cosmos ended recently when a freshly-launched satellite was
essentially declared dead. Tumbling in space since liftoff, the $54 million
WIRE spacecraft exhausted its supply of a critical coolant, making it
impossible to operate an onboard telescope to study the birth of stars
and galaxies. An investigation into the failure of NASA's Wide-Field
Infrared Explorer satellite is underway. --Florida Today
** The AMSAT-Japan Annual Meeting and Symposium will soon take
place in Tokyo, near Akihabara. The dates are March 20th and 21st.
'P3D/SCOPE group', 'Tokyo University CanSat Project', 'Operating
Satellites from a Condominium', 'Integrated Station Proposal for
Phase-3D Operation', 'Light Weight S-Band Helical Antenna', 'Details of
the Track Box', 'AO-27 Operation for Satellite Newcomers' and the
'International Space Station and ARISS Project' - are just some of the
topics that will be covered during JAMSAT Symposium '99. If you have
any questions, please contact ja3gep@jamsat.or.jp. --Mikio, JA3GEP
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-073.04
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 073.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 14, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-073.04
MIR/SAFEX
SAFEX II 70 cm Repeater
Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz
Downlink 437.950 MHz FM
Seldom-operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed.
SAFEX II 70 cm QSO Mode
Uplink 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz
Downlink 437.925 MHz FM
Seldom-operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed.
PMS
Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK
Semi-operational due to SSTV transmissions.
The PBBS is running a Kantronics KPC-9612 + V.8.1 TNC. The
commands are similar to most PBBS and BBS systems.
Bill, K6AKO, reports hearing French astronaut Jean-Pierre in two-way
voice contact on 146.985 MHz. SSTV reports have been received by
Dave, VK3DXL, Rick, KB0VBZ and Mike Thompson.
AMSAT-France announced that Air Force General Jean-Pierre Haignere
has been given a personal callsign to use aboard Mir - FX0STB. The
QSL manager for FX0STB is:
Radio Club F5KAM
QSL manager MIR
22 rue Bansac
63000 Clermont Ferrand
France
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]
Radio Sport 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.
Radio Sport 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
Operational. Last reported in mode KA with a 10-meter downlink and a
15-meter and 2-meter uplink.
Tony, AB2CJ, fresh from his success with SSTV transmissions on
FO-20, has been testing ROBOT 36 mode SSTV on RS-13, near
29.490 MHz (in upper sideband). Tony has been testing SSTV near the
top of the downlink to avoid any possible QRM.
KG4OX in Guantanamo Bay has been active. Doug was worked by
Don, KC4YRT, Garie, K8KFJ and Keith, N4ZQ, among others.
QSL to Doug's home call - W4OX.
RS-12/13 command is now in the hands of Alex Papkov, in
Kaluga City, Russia.
Radio Sport 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.
John, K2JF, reports 559 downlink signals from the bird during a recent
pass. The 29.380 MHz SSB 'meeting frequency' used by most RS-15
operators is showing good results.
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. AO-10 is locked into a 70-cm uplink
and a 2-meter downlink.
W4SM reports AO-10 has entered another sleep period due to
poor solar angle. Masa, JN1GKZ, has measured the satellite's spin rate
using FFTDSP software (and AO-10's beacon). The results can be found
at: http://www.din.or.jp/~m-arai/.
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 on/off states of AO-27 were re-set on Monday March 1, 1999 by
Chuck, KM4NZ. The TEPR states on AO-27 are now as follows:
TEPR 4 is 24
TEPR 5 is 60
This means that the transmitter will turn on 12 minutes after it enters the
sun and shut off 18 minutes later.
Mike, N1JEZ, reports working CU3/DL7VTX and EB4DKA via AO-27.
Look for John, N8QGC, operating from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
and from Puerto Rico as KP2/N8QGC and KP4/N8QGC later this month.
KM4NZ tells ANS that AO-27 "has exceeded it design life cycle and the
control team is going to give it a physical to see how healthy it really is."
AO-27 is seeing heavy usage, especially on weekends.
[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.
Tony, AB2CJ, has been transmitting SSTV on FO-20 with good results.
AB2CJ can be found using ROBOT 36 mode near 435.890 MHz
(in USB).
[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
Semi-operational, rotated with digital mode and digi-talker.
Digital Mode JD
Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM
Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK
Digitalker operation 435.910 MHz
Semi-operational, rotated with analog mode and digi-talker.
The new operation schedule announced by JARL command
is as follows:
* through -- Mar 18 JD1200
Mar 19 -- Mar 23 Digitalker
Mar 23 -- Mar 30 JA
The JARL will update this schedule on March 30th.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-073.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 073.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 14, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-073.05
KITSAT KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Not operational. The downlink transmitter has not been operational for
any normal communication.
ANS has learned (from the KO-23 ground command team) that
satellite downlink telemetry shows one of KO-23's battery cells to
be very unstable. HL0ENJ reports that KO-23 is in continual sunlight
though 19-March and they are downloading battery information from
the satellite using a synchronous 1200 baud data flow during each pass.
Bill, VK3JT, reports the last data he downloaded from KO-23 was on
17-January. Passes this week have the downlink signal at S-8 with no
data. Rick, KB0VBZ, also reports good signal strength but no data from
the satellite.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ,
for KO-23 status information]
KITSAT KO-25
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 436.50 MHz FM
Operational.
KO-25 is absorbing the additional traffic (due to the loss of KO-23) and is
performing well under heavy usage.
[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.
More information on the satellite is available at the following URL:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/
[Chris Jackson, G7UPN /ZL2TPO, is the Operations Manager of
UO-22]
OSCAR-11
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK
Beacon 2401.500 MHz
Operational.
Clive, G3CWV, reports that good signals have been received from the
145.826 MHz beacon.
The ASCII bulletin is currently a static message, detailing modes and
frequencies of the current amateur radio satellites with additional status
blocks after each bulletin and between ASCII TLM and WOD.
More information about OSCAR 11 can be found at the following URL:
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.
Telemetry is as follows:
Time is Sat Mar 13 11:02:09 1999 uptime is 1637/05:24:18
+X (RX) Temp 4.839 D RX Temp -5.448 D
Bat 1 Temp 4.839 D Bat 2 Temp 6.049 D
RC PSK BP Temp 1.814 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 3.629 D
+Y Array Temp 1.209 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 0.603 D
+Z Array Temp 13.916 D Baseplt Temp 4.839 D
RC PSK TX Out 0.650 W
Total Array C= 0.311 Bat Ch Cur=-0.061 Ifb= 0.063 I+10V= 0.334
TX:010C BCR:82 PWRC:59F BT: A WC:25 EDAC:BA
General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at:
http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu
A complete collection of WOD graphics corresponding to the
year of 1998 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.
No BBS service -- both EA1BCU and NN0DJ/ANS have not received any
updated information for several months. The digipeater is active.
Telemetry is as follows:
Time is Sat Mar 13 21:55:49 1999 uptime is 225/08:21:11
+X (RX) Temp -6.600 D
RX Temp 4.618 D
RC PSK TX Out 0.674 W
Total Array C= 0.010 Bat Ch Cur=-0.273 Ifb= 0.128 I+10V= 0.155
TX:017 BCR:1E PWRC:62D BT:3C WC: 0
General information and telemetry samples can be found at:
http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/lo19.htm
[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report]
TMSAT-1 TO-31
Uplink 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 436.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
Operational.
ProcMail V2.00G has been released by G7UPN. This software permits
the processing of image files from TO-31. ProcMail V2.00G is available
for downloading on KO-23 and KO-25. It also has been posted to the
AMSAT-NA FTP site at the following URL:
www.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/wisp
[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
Unknown status. ANS has not received any recent updates concerning
the current status of GO-32 and no additional information is available at
this time.
The TechSat-1B micro-satellite was successfully launched from the
Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998.
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]
SedSat-1 SO-33
Downlink 437.910 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions. Recovery
efforts have been unsuccessful. The chances of SedSat-1 reaching full
operational status is doubtful.
SedSat-1, signifying Students for the Exploration and Development of
Space Satellite number one, was successfully launched and placed in
orbit on Saturday, October 24, 1998.
Dennis, KD4ETA , reports SedSat is continuing to perform as it has since
launch, transmitting telemetry until the batteries are depleted and then
going into safe mode -- then repeating the process. Dennis reports the
satellite downlink has been active for over four months of the stated
minimum design life of six months. "It is just too bad we have problems
with the receivers or we would have such a beautiful bird," said KD4ETA.
Dennis further noted "in my opinion we can claim now at least partial
victory for our satellite. Most of the engineering goals have been met, but
it is just a total shame that the imaging system has not been able to fulfill
its mission due to the probable loss of both receivers."
For more information on SedSat-1, including Version 1.2 of the SedSat
ground station software -- visit the satellite web site at the following URL:
http://www.seds.org/sedsat
[ANS thanks Dr. Mark Maier, KF4YGR, and Dennis Ray Wingo, KD4ETA,
for this information]
PanSat PO-34
Downlink frequency not established.
The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions.
PanSat, developed by the Naval Postgraduate School, was launched
from the shuttle Discovery. PanSat spread-spectrum digital transponders
will be available to amateur radio operators in the near future along with
software to utilize this technology. The PO-34 command station is
located in Monterey, California.
Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, PANSAT Project Manager recommends
'The ARRL Spread Spectrum Sourcebook' as a good place to start in
understanding the spread-spectrum scheme.
The PANSAT Team does not expect the satellite to be available to the
Amateur Radio community for another few months.
For more information, visit the official PANSAT web site at:
http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/pansat/
[ANS thanks Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, for this information]
SunSat SO-35
Downlink frequency not established.
The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions. At this
time the command team is planning general amateur radio service by the
end of March.
SunSat was launched February 23, 1999 aboard a Delta II rocket from
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. SunSat stands for
Stellenbosch University Satellite and takes it name from the South
African university whose students constructed the payload.
The SunSat package includes 1200 and 9600 baud digital
store-and-forward capability and a voice 'parrot' repeater system that will
be used primarily for educational demonstrations. The satellite has two
VHF and two UHF transmit-receive systems.
For more information on SunSat, visit the following URL:
http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za
[ANS thanks Garth Milne ZR1AFH, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-073.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 3
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 073.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 14, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-073.06
THE FOLLOWING SATELLITES ARE IN ORBIT BUT 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.
DOVE stopped transmitting in March 1998. The 145.825 MHz and
2401.220 MHz downlinks are off the air and the satellite has not
responded to ground station control.
QSL cards for receiving DOVE (when the satellite is operating) may
be obtained from:
Dianne White, N0IZO
45777 Rampart Road
Parker, Colorado 80138-4316
USA
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.
ITAMSAT IO-26
Uplink 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM 1200 Baud
Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB
Unknown status. ANS has not received any recent updates concerning
the status of IO-26. No additional information is available at this time.
--ANS END---
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to
ans-editor@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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