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[jamsat-news:1144] ANS-241
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 241
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 (or) the AMSAT web site.
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-241.01
MIR CREW RETURNS TO EARTH
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 241.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 29, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-241.01
New agencies around the world all reported the same story - for the
first time in over 10 years, there's nobody in space. Todd Halvorson
of the newspaper Florida Today told ANS that "in an emotional
overture to a fiery grand finale, an international crew left Russia's
aging space station Mir early Saturday morning, reducing Earth's
orbital population to zero." The crew's departure also signaled an
end to Amateur Radio operation aboard the Mir station.
Mir had been occupied for 3,641 consecutive days.
The departure followed a hectic two weeks in which the crew shut down
station laboratories, filled up its garbage scow and switched off all but
essential systems. A new crew, meanwhile, is being trained for a short
mission that might be needed to make final preparations for what would
amount to a burial-at-sea. The schedule calls for cosmonauts to fly to Mir
in February or March of 2000 and to oversee the arrival of a fuel-filled
Russian space freighter. The freighter would periodically fire onboard
thrusters, nudging Mir into a lower orbit of about 125 to 135 miles above
Earth. The crew then would abandon ship and return to Earth before the
freighter gives Mir a powerful last push into the upper atmosphere.
Mir has placed some incredible numbers in the record books, stating with
orbits; Mir orbits the Earth about 16 times a day, for total of more than
77,000 to date. The station has been aloft for almost 5,000 days going
back to the core component launch and has seen nearly 100 passengers,
including seven NASA astronauts, a Japanese journalist, a British
candymaker and several other foreign visitors. Mir was also the setting
for the longest stay in space by Cosmonaut Valery Polyakov (recording
438 days in 1994-95). Many of the visitors were ham operators who were
very 'radio-active' from the station during their stay.
Many satellite operators posted comments on the AMSAT-BB about Mir.
Jeff, W4JEF, essentially captured the thoughts of many with his posting;
"may the memory of the fun we've all had with Mir remained etched in our
minds for years to come."
[ANS congratulates the Mir space station and all who flew on her for their
outstanding achievements]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-241.02
STENSAT LAUNCH UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 241.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 29, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-241.02
Amateur Radio satellite operators around the world are watching, with
much interest, the upcoming launch of the very small (and very intriguing)
StenSat Amateur Radio picosatellite. StenSat is a tiny (12 cubic inch) FM
crossband repeater 'in the sky' -- which will operate much like the popular
AO-27 satellite. StenSat will use an uplink frequency of 145.840 MHz and
a downlink of 436.625 MHz.
Hank Heidt, N4AFL, tells ANS that StenSat will be part of the Stanford
University's OPAL (Orbiting Picosatellite Automated Launcher)
experiment, currently scheduled for an October 4, 1999 launch date.
Stay tuned to ANS for launch details as they become available.
N4AFL and his team are looking for volunteers to monitor and control the
StenSat picosatellite. The team is particularly interested in getting
AX.25 style telemetry reports from the satellite in the first hours after
launch. In addition, N4AFL is looking for volunteer control operators
who can help switch the operating modes of the bird (using standard
DTMF tones).
If interested in volunteering, contact N4AFL at the following e-mail
address: hheidt@erols.com
Details on the StenSat picosatellite is available on the web at:
http://www.erols.com/hheidt
[ANS thanks Hank Heidt, N4AFL, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-241.03
ARISS ANTENNA UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 241.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 29, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-241.03
The ARRL is reporting that hardware key to ham radio involvement
in the International Space Station program has been sent to the flight
processing facility at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. According to
SAREX Principal Investigator Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL, "once all the
equipment is in hand, the antenna system components will be integrated
and undergo flight qualification testing."
KC5BTL tells ANS that the ARISS program calls for eventually providing
HF capability from ISS. "We haven't done HF before from the shuttle or
Mir and a lot of hams have really wanted us to go in that direction."
Running HF gear from the space shuttle was deemed impractical before,
said Bordelon, because the SAREX program depended on a window
style antenna.
Things will be different with the four, externally mounted antennas on the
ISS Service Module. The ARISS Italian team has built and shipped
L/S-band antennas, diplexers and radomes which comprise part of the
four antenna packages. Each antenna system consists of either a
VHF/UHF, HF, or L/S-band antenna, diplexer, mounting plate, mounting
clamp and antenna cable.
The antenna systems, scheduled for delivery aboard shuttle mission
STS-101, will make use of four Russian-provided bulkhead feedthroughs
on the Service Module. Astronauts aboard ISS will connect the initial
ARISS radio transceivers and associated hardware to the antenna
systems.
The ISS 'initial station' ham gear recently passed qualification testing.
This initial station setup will support amateur operation on voice and
AFSK packet on 2 meters and 70-cm.
The ARRL is also reporting that testing is underway on the German
built digitalker speaker-microphone, slated for manifest on a shuttle flight
in 2000. The device functions as a digital voice memory beacon,
reminiscent of the SAFEX digitalkers experimented with on Mir. ISS crew
members will be able to record short messages in the digitalker's
memory and the unit will then send the message as a beacon at specific
time intervals.
Stay tuned to ANS for further developments.
[ANS thanks the ARRL, SAREX Principal Investigator Matt Bordelon,
KC5BTL, and Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT Vice President for
Human Spaceflight Programs for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-241.04
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 241.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 29, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-241.04
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** Phase 3-D Integration Lab manager Lou McFadin, W5DID, tells ANS
that the P3D satellite has safely returned home to Florida (from vibration
testing in Maryland). "The bird has returned to the nest," reported
W5DID, adding, "as the normal Florida thunderstorms began to build up
in the far distance, Phase 3-D was unloaded from the rental truck." Lou
said the assembled team worked quickly and efficiently and unloaded the
satellite in record time. AMSAT-NA President Keith Baker, KB1SF,
passed along his thanks to everyone at the Lab for a job well (and safely)
done. -ANS
** The Mars Millennium Project (MMP) web site is now up and running.
This ambitious project will link hundreds of thousands of students across
the United States in a multi-year effort to design a community for human
inhabitants on Mars in the year 2030. Meanwhile, a strip of gentle, rolling
plains near the Martian south pole will serve as a welcome mat when
NASA's Mars Polar Lander touches down on the red planet this
December 3rd. Details on the Lander can be found at:
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/mars-mmp-99a.html.
-SpaceDaily
** The Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences (Pforzheim, Germany)
successfully obtained pictures of the recent solar eclipse shadow over
Europe via microwave ATV from a high altitude balloon built by students
and faculty. The path of totality went right over the city of Pforzheim.
Many pictures of the balloon equipment (employing 2.3 GHz ATV) can be
found at the PUAS balloon web site: http://www.fh-pforzheim.de/sofi/.
Color pictures of the eclipse are also available at:
http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/3161/hablic.htm. -Hank Riley
** NASA is working with American farmers to further develop precision
farming methods in which crop inputs such as seed, fertilizer and
pesticide are applied only to specific areas where they are needed.
More details are available at the following URL:
http://spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/nasa-99e.html. -SpaceDaily
** The 18th Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications
Conference gets under way in just a few weeks. The conference is being
held Friday through Sunday, September 24-26, 1999, in Phoenix,
Arizona. Tucson Amateur Packet Radio's Greg Jones, WD5IVD,
will chair this year's event. The DCC offers an international forum for
beginners and veterans in digital communications, networking, and
related technologies to meet, publish their work, and present new ideas
and techniques for discussion. Presenters and attendees have the
opportunity to exchange ideas and learn about recent hardware and
software advances, theories, experimental results, and practical
applications. Further details are available at: http://www.tapr.org/dcc.
-ARRL
** NASA's Glenn Research Center has selected six proposals for
experiments and theoretical work in an interesting area called
BPP -Breakthrough Propulsion Physics -- research that may ultimately
lead to methods of practical interstellar travel. Details can be found at:
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/future-99i.html. -SpaceDaily
** AMSAT's Martha Saragovitz reminds all that time is running out to
ensure the room rate for the AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual
Meeting. Any request received after that September 15th will be placed
on a space available basis at the group rate. Call Martha at
301-608-3410 for more details. -ANS
** Several key satellite operators will meet in early September at the
World Summit on Financing for Satellite Communications and
Broadcasting in Paris. All together, they expect to invest nearly
$40 billion in the space segment over the next five years. For Details
visit the following URL: > http://spacedaily.com/cgi-bin/euroconf2.cgi.
-SpaceDaily
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-241.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 241.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 29, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-241.05
RADIO SPORT RS-12
Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB
Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 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
Robot Downlink 29.454 MHz
Semi-operational, beacon only.
RADIO SPORT RS-13
Uplink 21.260 to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB
Uplink 145.960 to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.460 to 29.500 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 145.960 to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 29.458 MHz
Robot Uplink 145.840 MHz
Robot Downlink 29.504 MHz
Operational. Last reported in mode KA with a 10-meter downlink
and a 15-meter and 2-meter uplink.
Brian, N9WJJ, will be active on RS-13 from EN-46 through
early September.
RS-13's Robot CW auto-transponder is active. For confirmation of an
RS-13 Robot contact, send your QSL card along with the Robot
QSL number to:
Radio Sport Federation
Box 88
Moscow
Kevin, AC5DK, has information about RS-12/13 that contains a simple
explanation on how to operate on the satellite, including a forum for
operators to exchange information, pose questions or even set up
schedules via RS-12/13.
AC5DK's RS-12/13 Satellite Operators Page:
http://www.qsl.net/ac5dk/rs1213/rs1213.html
AC5DK's RS-12/13 Satellite Forum:
http://www.hotboards.com/powerforum/pwrforum.exe?who=rs1213
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)
SSB meeting frequency 29.380 MHz (unofficial)
Semi-operational, mode A, using a 2-meter uplink and a
10-meter downlink.
Dave, WB6LLO, has operating information for both RS-15 and RS-13
on his personal web site. In addition to satellite data, antenna
information and AMSAT-NA Jewelry Contest information is also featured.
The WB6LLO web site URL is:
http://home.san.rr.com/doguimont/uploads
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 has been locked into a 70-cm uplink
and a 2-meter downlink for several years.
Dirk, ON1DLL, and William, PE1RAH, report they have been testing
RTTY via AO-10. Both report that they achieved almost 100% copy even
when using low power and invite others to use the mode. PE1RAH and
ON1DLL also report DX on AO-10 recently including TR8CA,
OX3DB, ZS2BWB, 5H3US, PY4AJ, T72EB and SV5BYR. John, K6YK,
reports hearing YB0ARA/9, ZL2VAL, 7K4IIN, JA6BX and VK6ZAK.
Bill, K7MT, recently tried AO-10 for the first time, working VK6ZAK,
7J7ABD, YB0ARA/9 and JM1KVW.
Masa, JN1GKZ, reports his web page shows the current AO-10
spin period and spin rate (by measuring the beacon with FFTDSP
software). The JN1GKZ web site can be found at the following URL:
http://www.din.or.jp/~m-arai/ao10/beacone.htm
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]
AMRAD AO-27
Uplink 145.850 MHz FM
Downlink 436.795 MHz FM
Operational, mode J.
The satellite is performing well with heavy use on the weekends.
John, K6YK, reports hearing many mobile and portable stations
recently including N6KMR/m, K5OE/m, N0XLR/m, KC1TF/m and
KB8WCJ/m. K6YK also tells ANS that N2YQP, KK5YY and N1JEZ
have been active doing demos from hamfests around the country.
TEPR 4 is 42 and TEPR 5 is 78.
[ANS thanks Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ, and Michael Wyrick, N4USI, for
AO-27 information]
JAS-1b FO-20
Uplink 145.900 to 146.000 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 MHz CW/USB
Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously.
FO-20 continues to function quite well.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status reports]
JAS-2 FO-29
Voice/CW Mode JA
Uplink 145.900 to 146.000 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 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 435.910 MHz
Semi-operational, rotated with analog mode and digi-talker.
Kazu, JJ1WTK, reports the FO-29 operational
schedule (announced by the JARL) is as follows:
through September 9th JA
September 10th Digitalker
Mineo, JE9PEL, has updated his FO-29 satellite telemetry analysis
Program. The software will automatically analyze all digital
telemetry from the satellite such as current, voltage and temperature.
The JE9PEL FO-29/software update is available at:
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-29 status reports]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-241.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 241.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 29, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-241.06
KITSAT KO-25
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 436.500 MHz FM
Operational.
Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-25 is performing well with good downlink
efficiency.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for KO-25 status information]
UOSAT UO-22
Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 435.120 MHz FM
Operational.
Carol, W9HGI, reports UO-22 is performing within acceptable limits.
W9HGI operates the West Coast Packet Satellite Gateway (WSPG) for
the Worldwide Packet Network (WPN).
More information on the satellite is available at the following URL:
http://www.sstl.co.uk/
[ANS thanks Carol Byers, W9HGI and Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO,
for UO-22 status information]
OSCAR-11
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 baud AFSK
Mode-S Beacon 2401.500 MHz
Operational.
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, detailing modes and
frequencies of all the amateur radio satellites.
More information on OSCAR-11 is available at the following URL:
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/
[ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for OSCAR-11 status information]
PACSAT AO-16
Uplink 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.86 MHz FM
using 1200 baud Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK
Mode-S Beacon 2401.1428 MHz
Operating normally (with the exception of the mode-S beacon,
which is currently off).
AO-16 has operated continuously for over 1,800 days since its
last software reload.
Telemetry is as follows:
Time is Sat Aug 28 12:06:22 1999 uptime is 1805/06:25:33
+10V Bus 11.150 V +X (RX) Temp 6.654 D
RX Temp -4.237 D Baseplt Temp 2.419 D
RC PSK TX Out 0.472 W RC PSK BP Temp 3.024 D
RC PSK HPA Tmp 2.419 D +Y Array Temp -5.448 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp 1.814 D +Z Array Temp 18.756 D
Total Array C= 0.305 Bat Ch Cur=-0.001 Ifb= 0.069 I+10V= 0.259
TX:010B BCR:88 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:F0
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 AO-16 status information]
LUSAT LO-19
Uplink 145.84 145.86 145.88 145.90 MHz FM
using 1200 baud Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK
Currently semi-operational. No BBS service. The digipeater is active.
Telemetry is as follows:
Time is Fri Aug 27 22:55:09 1999 uptime is 392/09:20:31
+10V Bus 11.024 V Baseplt Temp -0.991 D
RC PSK TX Out 0.547 W RC PSK BP Temp -5.478 D
RC PSK HPA Tmp -6.600 D +Y Array Temp -18.940 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp -6.039 D +Z Array Temp -12.209 D
Total Array C= 0.430 Bat Ch Cur= 0.228 Ifb= 0.017 I+10V= 0.110
TX:016 BCR:7D 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 LO-19 status information]
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. It has been posted to the
AMSAT-NA FTP site at the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/wisp
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for TO-31 status
information]
PANSAT PO-34
Uplink/downlink frequencies have not been established.
The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions.
PanSat, developed by the Naval Postgraduate School, was launched
from the shuttle Discovery during STS-95. PanSat spread-spectrum
digital transponders will be available to amateur radio operators in the
near future along with software to utilize this technology.
Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, PanSat Project Manager recommends
'The ARRL Spread Spectrum Sourcebook' as a good place to start in
understanding the spread-spectrum scheme.
For more information, visit the official PanSat web site at:
http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/pansat/
PanSat is the featured cover article in the July/August issue of the
AMSAT-NA Journal (written by KD6DRA and N7HPR).
[ANS thanks Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, for this information]
SUNSAT SO-35
Semi-operational. Modes of operation and uplink/downlink
frequencies have yet to be officially established.
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]
UoSAT-12 UO-36
Downlink 437.025 MHz
437.400 MHz
UoSAT-12 was successfully launched on April 21, 1999 from the
Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome. UO-36 carries a number of imaging
payloads, digital store-and-forward communications and mode L/S
transponders.
The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions.
UO-36 has been transmitting 9600-baud FSK telemetry framed in a
VLSI format using a downlink frequency of 437.400 MHz. Chris,
G7UPN, reports UO-36 is also transmitting on 437.025 MHz at a
baud rate of 38,400 (38k4). Presently the BBS is still closed.
S-band high speed downlink commissioning continues at rates
Between 128kb/s and 1Mb/s. The S-band downlink frequency has
not been announced.
The VK5HI/TMSAT viewer shareware is available on the AMSAT-NA
web site at the following URL:
ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/display/ccddsp97-119.zip
Further information on UO-36 is available from: http://www.sstl.co.uk/
[ANS thanks Chris G7UPN/ZL2TPO, and the University of Surrey for
this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-241.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 241.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 29, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-241.07
THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE
NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME:
MIR SPACE STATION
Ham radio activity aboard the Mir space station came to a close on
August 28, 1999 as the crew returned to Earth, leaving the station
unmanned. Mir is in a stable orbit with only essential systems running.
All Amateur Radio activities have ceased. Currently, the station is being
prepared for re-entry sometime in the first quarter of 2000, however, the
final fate of the space station has not been formally announced. Stay
tuned to ANS for further developments.
Current Amateur Radio equipment aboard Mir includes:
MIR SAFEX II 70-cm Repeater
Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz
Downlink 437.950 MHz FM
Not operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed.
MIR SAFEX II 70-cm QSO Mode
Uplink 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz
Downlink 437.925 MHz FM
Not operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed.
MIR PERSONAL MESSAGE SYSTEM (PMS)
Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK
Not operational.
RS-16
The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational.
Attempts to command the mode A transponder 'on' have been
unsuccessful to date. No additional information is available at this time.
DOVE DO-17
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK
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. 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.
TECHSAT-1B GO-32
Downlink 435.225 MHz using HDLC telemetry framed so
that a TNC in KISS mode will decode it
Unknown status. ANS has not received any recent updates concerning
the current status of GO-32.
The TechSat-1B micro-satellite was successfully launched from the
Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998.
Last reported, 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), on 435.225 MHz.
The TechSat team has constructed a home page about TechSat.
To view the site, point your web browser to:
http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/
No additional information is available at this time.
SEDSAT-1 SO-33
Downlink 437.910 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions and
recovery efforts have been unsuccessful over the past year.
Mineo, JE9PEL, reports he received one frame of telemetry from
the satellite in the past month. Rick, KB0VBZ, also reports receiving
telemetry from SedSat recently.
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.
For more information on SedSat-1 visit the satellite web site at the
following URL:
http://www.seds.org/sedsat
No additional information is available at this time.
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 for several months.
ANS has learned (from HL0ENJ) that satellite downlink telemetry shows
one of KO-23's battery cells to be very unstable.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ,
for KO-23 status information]
/EX
--ANS END---
ANS would like to thank Mike Seguin, N1JEZ, ANS principal satellite
investigator, for helping provide current satellite information for ANS.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to
ans-editor@amsat.org
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
@amsat.org
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