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[jamsat-news:1142] * SpaceNews 30-Aug-99 *
SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0830
* SpaceNews 30-Aug-99 *
BID: $SPC0830
=========
SpaceNews
=========
MONDAY AUGUST 30, 1999
* OSCAR-11 REPORT *
===================
Although Clive Wallis, G3CWV, has been suffering from a "stuck" elevator
motor in his antenna system which has hampered his reception of OSCAR-11,
he does report that the satellite appears to be transmitting consistent
signals on the 145.826 MHz beacon, and sufficent telemetry has been
captured to verify that the bird is in good health.
The battery voltage during daylight passes has remained fairly constant.
The average value observed was 13.6, with a range of 13.0 to 14.1 volts.
The internal temperatures have risen slightly over the past month. They
are now 1.0C and minus 0.4C for battery and telemetry electronics
respectively. On Wednesday August 11 during the 14:13 pass, slightly
lower temperatures of minus 0.2C and minus 1.4C were recorded. This
glitch may have been caused by the effects of the general solar eclipse
which occurred on that day. Clive is interested in hearing from anyone
who captured any telemetry on August 11th.
A single WOD survey of channels 1, 2, 3, 61 (magnetometers) dated 15
July 1999 has been transmitted by OSCAR-11. This survey shows the
increased spin period of about 450 seconds, which occurred when the
WOD was started, and has now been corrected by the attitude control
system.
The operating schedule is unchanged:
ASCII status (210 seconds)
ASCII bulletin (60 seconds)
BINARY SEU (30 seconds)
ASCII TLM (90 seconds)
ASCII WOD (120 seconds)
ASCII bulletin (60 seconds)
BINARY ENG (30 seconds)
The ASCII bulletin is currently a static message that details modes and
frequencies of all the amateur radio satellites. Additional status blocks
are transmitted after each bulletin and between ASCII TLM and WOD.
The Mode-S beacon is ON, transmitting an unmodulated carrier, but
telemetry indicates that it has partially failed, and delivering half
power. This beacon is a useful test source for those testing Mode-S
converters, prior to the launch of P3-D. However, the signals are very
weak, and there is a lot of Doppler shift in the received downlink signal.
Users should also note that the polarisation of OSCAR-11 is LHC. Even
if you can't hear OSCAR-11, your equipment may still be suitable for P3-D.
Any reports of reception of OSCAR-11 on 2401 MHz would be most welcome,
and should be directed to Clive at: g3cwv@amsat.org.
OSCAR-11's UHF beacon on 435.025 MHz is normally OFF. However, it can
sometimes be heard when the satellite is being commanded by ground control,
ie. within range of Guildford, UK. When the UHF beacon is transmitting,
the VHF beacon is normally OFF. The data transmitted is mainly binary.
Listeners to OSCAR-11 may be interested in visiting a web site dedicated
to OSCAR-11 reception and telemetry data analysis designed by Clive Wallis.
The web site contains details of hardware required and some software for
capturing data, and decoding ASCII telemetry and WOD. There is an archive
of raw data (mainly WOD) for analysis, which is continually being expanded
as new data is captured. Also included are some audio files that contain
examples of each type of data transmitted by OSCAR-11. Each one plays
for about ten seconds. There are also examples of Mode-S reception.
All the audio files are compressed (zipped) so that they can be played
off-line. These files are designed to help listeners identify the various
types of data, and give an indication of the signal quality required
for successful decoding.
The URL is:
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/
Due to the difficulty in getting a replacement elevator and the need
for some mast maintenance, it may be some time before Clive can restore
normal OSCAR-11 reception at his satellite ground station. If anyone
can help in supplying Clive with telemetry during the next few months,
it would be appreciated. Please e-mail Clive at g3cwv@amsat.org if you
can help, but don't send any telemetry at this stage.
[Info via Clive Wallis, G3CWV]
* STENSAT NEWS *
================
On October 4, 1999, Stanford University's OPAL, Orbiting Picosatellite
Automated Launcher, experiment is scheduled to be launched. Included
in this experiment is a small (12 cubic inch) StenSat amateur radio
picosatellite.
http://www.erols.com/hheidt
Specacraft designers are looking for volunteers to monitor and help control
our picosatellite. They are particularly interested in getting (AX.25)
telemetry reports in the days and hours after the launch. They are also
looking for volunteer control operators who can help switch the operating
modes of StenSat by transmitting standard DTMF tones to the satellite.
If you are interested in volunteering or if you capture any AX.25 telemetry
after the launch please send Hank Heidt, N4AFL an email message at:
hheidt@erols.com, and he will add you to the StenSat mailing list.
[Info via Hank Heidt, N4AFL]
* AMSAT-NA ANNUAL MEETING *
===========================
The 17th annual Space Symposium and AMSAT-NA annual meeting will take
place this year between October 8 and October 10 in San Diego, California.
Included in this year's events will be a field trip on Sunday morning
to Qualcomm and SpaceDev, Inc., both of which deal with satellite
communication and spacecraft. The IARU Satellite meeting has been
moved to Friday evening October 8 to allow those who attend the
opportunity to go on the field trip on Sunday.
Further information may be obtained at www.amsat.org, or by
contacting Duane Naugle, KO6BT, at ko6bt@amsat.org.
[Info via Duane Naugle, KO6BT]
* FUJI-OSCAR-29 NEWS *
======================
The following is the latest OSCAR-29 operating schedule:
Mon 23-Aug-99 0500 UTC -to- Thu 26-Aug-99 0200 UTC : Mode JD 1200
Thu 26-Aug-99 0400 UTC -to- Thu 09-Sep-99 : Mode JA
On Friday 10-Sep-99, the Digitalker is expected to be activated
with new voice data. The Digitalker transmits on 435.910 MHz FM.
[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]
* ECLIPSE PHOTOS *
==================
Hank, N1LTV reports that photos of the recent solar eclipse taken by
2.3 GHz ATV-equipped balloons are available at:
http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/3161/hablic.htm
http://www.fh-pforzheim.de/sofi/
* MIR PHOTO *
=============
Jim, K9ZZ, reports that a NASA photo of Mir taken by the Space Shuttle
Endeavour on mission STS-89 in late January 1988 is available at:
http://members.baraboo.com/BSSS/mirstn.jpg
* MESSAGE FROM MIR *
====================
Prior to his departure from Mir, French Cosmonaut Jean-Pierre Haignere
provided the following comments to Farrell Winder, W8ZCF via Amateur
Radio last Thursday:
Hello to all of you, we are very busy in the station but since the amateur
radio is close to us we are trying to tie it altogether in with the work.
We are sending a picture now. (Mir sent a fine slow-scan television image
of Sergei dressed very comfortably and Jean-Pierre in his dark uniform with
the distinguished bright reddish Emblem designed by a young French artist
depicting "The Look of the Man on the Earth". This picture was from the
Core Module with new background from that of the Priroda, the Priroda now
having been closed. Many packages could be seen in this picture covered
with what appeared to be blue wrapping cloth.)
JP continued: OK, we are preparing and packaging the cargo and preparing
the Mir to leave altogether, doesn't give us so much free time. We would
like to thank those Radio Amateurs who were faithfully on the frequency
either to get our picture or to send some or to send us a lot of packets.
Thanks a lot for this great support either to the American or the
Canadians, ah, would have liked to talk to the Eskimos as well, but
never-the-less thanks to you, we are leaving tomorrow, we may have some
other opportunities but obviously not with each of you and therefore it
would be nice to meet you on the ground.
* MIR NOW VACANT *
==================
On Saturday, the three-member crew of cosmonauts left the Mir space
station and switched the station to auto-pilot. The refrigerator,
excercise machines and some computers were shut down, and mission
control will reduce their daily communication sessions with the
spacecraft from 60 down to two.
Over the next six months, the power to Mir will be reduced, and Mir's
orbital altitude will be lowered from about 225 miles down to 200 miles.
In February or March, a "clean-up" crew will travel to Mir onboard a
Soyuz spacecraft. A Progress-M1 cargo ship will arrive to deliver fuel
to Mir, and while the crew dismantles equipment and retrieves experiments,
Progress will periodically fire its engines and lower Mir's altitude.
Once Mir's orbital altitude has been lowered to between 125 and 135 miles,
the crew will leave Mir on their Soyuz spacecraft. The Progress ship
will then fire one last time causing Mir to enter the earth's atmosphere
and decay. Since large portions of the spacecraft are expected to survive
the friction of the earth's atmosphere, the decay will be planned to take
place over unpopulated portions of the Pacific Ocean.
* THANKS! *
===========
Thanks to those who recently sent messages in appreciation of SpaceNews,
especially:
IW1AM AA4MD N7BFS
* APOLOGIES *
=============
There was no SpaceNews issued last week. :-(
* FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED *
===========================
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/
PACKET : KD2BD @ N2SMV.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net
SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, KITSAT-OSCAR-25
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