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[jamsat-news:1167] ANS 297
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 297
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.
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 edition of ANS is dedicated to the memory of Al Johnson, K6LJM,
(ex KF6YM), who passed away recently from the effects of a severe
stroke. K6LJM was one of the most active microwave ATV amateurs in
California and his contributions will be long remembered.
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-297.01
PHASE 3D WATCH
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 297.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 24, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-297.01
Both AMSAT-DL and the ARRL are reporting that Phase 3D Project
Leader Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, and a delegation from AMSAT-DL
are at the Phase 3D Integration Laboratory in Orlando, giving the
P3D satellite a final once-over.
AMSAT-NA President Keith Baker, KB1SF, tells ANS that "so far,
everything is proceeding smoothly." KB1SF said the German team is
putting P3D through its paces as a final checkout prior to shipping the
satellite to the launch site at Kourou in French Guiana at month's end.
As ANS has reported - a launch contract accepting Phase 3D as a
payload for the first suitable Arianespace Ariane 5 vehicle launch was
signed October 5th. In a news release last week, Arianespace noted
that Phase 3D would be "one of the first secondary payloads boosted by
Ariane 5, which will use a special adapter for orbital injection." The
Arianespace release also said that Phase 3D, which weighs 1,430
pounds, will be injected into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).
P3D will then use its own propulsion system to reach an elliptical orbit
ranging from approximately 2,480 miles to more than 27,000 miles from
Earth.
This official Arianespace press release can be found at:
http://press.arianespace.com/cgi-bin/pbcgi60.exe/press/u_ariane
Once in its intended orbit, Phase 3D will have an estimated life span of 10
years. For more information on Phase 3D, visit the AMSAT-NA Web site
at:
http://www.amsat.org
[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL, the ARRL and Arianespace for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-297.02
ISS UPDATE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 297.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 24, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-297.02
As hinted in pervious ANS bulletin sets -- NASA now confirms the space
shuttle that will carry the initial Amateur Radio gear into space for the
International Space Station -- will launch no earlier than
February 10, 2000. The flight will be aboard shuttle Atlantis, on mission
STS-101, and will carry only the ham transceivers, not any external
Amateur Radio antenna setup. The good news is that the ARISS team
reports a suitable commercial external antenna on the service module
will be made available so that the crew can start using the ISS ham setup
immediately on 2-meters. It is important to note the arrival and installation
of the external ham antenna modules is sill a high NASA/ARISS priority.
The flight transporting the VHF and UHF hand-held transceivers and
associated antennas and accessories to the ISS had been scheduled
to launch in December of this year. NASA imposed a shuttle launch
hiatus to perform electrical inspections of the entire shuttle fleet,
however, disrupting the launch schedule. The inspections came in the
wake of problems during the July launch of the shuttle Columbia, when
astronauts and ground controllers struggled with power failures in
computers controlling two of the orbiter's three main engines.
NASA and Russian space agency officials also have agreed to delay the
Launch of the Zvezda service module that will house the amateur gear.
According to NASA, a U.S. delegation and the Russians agreed that "it
is no longer prudent to proceed with the current service module
schedule."
For more information on the ARISS project, visit the following URL:
http://garc.gsfc.nasa.gov/~ariss/ariss.html.
[ANS thanks NASA and the ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-297.03
GODDARD ANNIVERSARY
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 297.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 24, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-297.03
AMSAT's Dan Schultz, N8FGV, told ANS about a recent anniversary
that helped to form the groundwork for space launch vehicles as we
know them today.
On October 19, 1899, then 17-year old Robert Goddard climbed a
cherry tree in the backyard of his family's home in Worcester,
Massachusetts. In later years he wrote about that fateful day:
"This was the situation when, on the afternoon of October 19, 1899, I
climbed a tall cherry tree at the back of the barn, on a plot where I
had visions of some kind of frog-hatching experiments, and, armed with
a saw which I still have, and a hatchet, started to trim the dead limbs
from the cherry tree. It was one of the quiet, colorful afternoons of
sheer beauty which we have in October in New England; as I looked
toward the fields at the east, I imagined how wonderful it would be to
make some device which had even the possibility of ascending to Mars,
and how it would look on a small scale, if sent up from the meadow at my
feet. I have several photographs of the tree, taken since, with the little
ladder I made to climb it, leaning against it. It seemed to me then that a
weight whirling around a horizontal shaft moving more rapidly above than
below, could furnish lift by virtue of the greater centrifugal force at the
top of the path. In any event, I was a different boy when I descended the
tree from when I ascended, for existence at last seemed very purposive."
This date was of such significance to Dr. Goddard that he thereafter
referred to it as his "anniversary day" and almost every year made some
reference to it in his diary as his personal holiday.
With the 100-year anniversary of that day and with a U.S. spacecraft
approaching Mars for a landing along with the recent announcement of
the upcoming launch of Phase 3D, it seems fitting to reflect on the vision
of Dr. Goddard so many years before -- in the branches of a cherry tree
one October afternoon.
[ANS thanks Dan Schultz, N8FGV, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-297.04
RS-16 RE-ENTRY
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 297.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 24, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-297.04
Phase 3D team member Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, tells ANS that the
RS-16 satellite re-entered Earth atmosphere some time on Monday,
October 25, 1999. Peter reports that undoubtedly, the spacecraft burned
up upon re-entry. The mode-A transponder aboard the satellite was
never fully activated.
The decay alert was first posted by Eric, W3DQ. The AMSAT-BB
contained the following message:
It seems that the Russian Amateur Radio satellite Zeya (RS-16) has
re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on Monday morning. RS-16 was
launched aboard the first launch vehicle from the (then) new Russian
Svobodny Cosmodrome in 1997. SpaceCom's last prediction showed
the decay of Zeya at 25-October-1999, 04:12 UTC.
ANS has carried the following minimal RS-16 information in the
non-operational satellite category for the past two years:
RS-16
The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational. Attempts to command the
mode A transponder 'on' have been unsuccessful to date.
ANS will now remove RS-16 information from future bulletins.
[ANS thanks Peter Guelzow, DB2OS. For this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-297.05
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 297.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 24, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-297.04
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** Bob, K4CY, has made his logging software available free to the
general amateur population. It's a Windows 95/98-based program,
supporting full ADIF imports and exports. It also includes PSK-31
software. To download a copy, visit http://www.guam.net/pub/midxa
and click on 'Logger' on the main page. -ARRL Letter
** The AMSAT-SM 'Future Amateur Satellites' web page is completing
a list of new amateur satellites. Check out the web site and send any
correction or new information to AMSAT-SM at the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-sm. -Lars, SM0TGU
** According to Amateur Radio census statistics cited recently in the
W5YI Report, U.S. licensee growth has nearly stalled overall during
August and September, however, the number of American amateurs
peaked at 676,318 at the end of July. -ARRL, W5YI Report
** Nanotechnology will change the world as we know it. Not that long
ago, there were no cars, airplanes, computers or Amateur Radio
satellites and the average person would have had a hard time
imagining them. In the next 50 years, we may have submicroscopic
self-replicating robots, machine people, the end of disease and
communications platforms that are unheard of today. Surprised?
Check out the weird and wonderful world of nanotechnology at
http://1.digital.cnet.com. -CNET
** FCC Legal Adviser for Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth has
made good on a promise to look into complaints of apparent
malicious interference to a repeater in Mexico operating on
145.460 MHz. In addition, satellite operators using the
AMSAT-BB have been discussing border interference to
AO-27 during southern passes. -ARRL, ANS
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-297.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 297.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 24, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-297.05
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, in mode-KA with a 10-meter downlink
and a 15-meter and 2-meter uplink.
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
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 for mode-A operation 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.
Jerry, K5OE, reports to ANS that he has been timing AO-10 QSB
during perigee passes and notes a semi-consistent pattern of about
a 14 minute cycle: 8 minutes of discernible audio going from barely there
through the warble stage up to about S-5 signals, and then back down
again. Stacey Mills, W4SM, reports AO-10 currently experiences
eclipses at perigee of approximately 30 minutes length. W4SM reports
that "what Jerry is describing appears to be a different phenomenon
related to slow tumbling of the satellite producing poor illumination of
the solar panels, poor antenna positioning, or both. However, please note
that the perigee eclipses will continue for a long time (months). They will
slowly move towards a later period in the orbit and a corresponding
longer duration into the early part of 2000." W4SM tells ANS that AO-10
will not be eclipse free again until March 25, 2000.
DX continues to be heard and worked on AO-10. Filippos, SV1DNU,
reports working Kimio, 8J1RL, on AO-10. "His signals were quite strong,
I worked him with 10-watts on an 8-element yagi for the uplink and a
6-element yagi for the downlink, both without elevation control," said
Filippos. AMSAT-UK 2-meter net regulars Malcom, G7NFO, and Terry,
G1WPR, both report contacts with 8J1RL. Mike, W1BFN, reports a
QSO with 5H3US.
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.
Jamboree-On-The-Air activity on AO-27 was heard recently from
K2BSA, KC2BZJ and KD4SFF. Jim, V31KD, has been active from
Belize during recent AO-27 passes.
Chuck, KM4NZ, recently reset the TEPR states on AO-27 (on
October 11, 1999).
TEPR 4 is 22 TEPR 5 is 58
[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.
Filippos, SV1DNU, reports good signals from FO-29 recently.
Mike, KF4FDJ, has put together a very informative document on FO-29,
addressing analog, digital and digi-talker modes. To obtain a copy
e-mail Mike at: kf4fdj@amsat.org
Kazu, JJ1WTK, reports the FO-29 operational schedule
(announced by the JARL) is as follows:
October 22 - November 8th Digitalker
November 09 - 15 JA
As this bulletin set was initially posted, N1JEZ reports that FO-29
was still in analog mode.
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-297.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 297.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 24, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-297.05
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]
KITSAT KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Not operational.
ANS has learned (from HL0ENJ) that satellite downlink telemetry shows
two of KO-23's battery cells to be very unstable.
Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-23 is non-operational once again. The last
contact with the satellite was on 22-October-1999 at 02:50 UTC.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ,
for KO-23 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 active 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
Operational (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.
AO-16 telemetry is as follows:
Time is Sat Oct 23 11:13:12 1999 uptime is 1861/05:30:44
+Z Array V 22.711 V X (RX) Temp -5.448 D
RX Temp -1.817 D 5V Bus 4.874 V
+8.5V Bus 8.960 V +10V Bus 11.175 V
BCR Set Point 125.746 C BCR Load Cur 0.313 A
BCR Input Cur 0.509 A BCR Output Cur 0.415 A
Bat 1 Temp 4.839 D Bat 2 Temp 5.444 D
Baseplt Temp 4.839 D RC PSK TX Out 0.457 W
RC PSK BP Temp 1.209 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 0.603 D
+Y Array Temp 5.444 D +Z Array Temp -2.422 D
Total Array C= 0.523 Bat Ch Cur= 0.102 Ifb=-0.014 I+10V= 0.326
TX:010B BCR:81 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:DC
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.
LO-19 telemetry is as follows:
Time is Sat Oct 23 11:39:49 1999 uptime is 448/22:05:11
+X (RX) Temp -1.552 D RX Temp -0.991 D
Baseplt Temp 2.374 D RC PSK TX Out 0.674 W
RC PSK BP Temp -0.991 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -0.430 D
+Y Array Temp 3.496 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -1.552 D
+Z Array Temp -3.235 D
Total Array C= 0.286 Bat Ch Cur= 0.124 Ifb= 0.045 I+10V= 0.113
TX:017 BCR:89 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 1999 issue of the
AMSAT-NA Journal (written by KD6DRA and N7HPR).
[ANS thanks Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, for this information]
SUNSAT SO-35
Semi-operational. SunSat has been in mode-B recently.
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.
Filippos, SV1DNU, reports "excellent signals received from SunSat,
peaking at S-9+." SV1DNU also reports that he could even hear the
downlink on his handheld.
The announced SUNSAT schedule through November 7th is as follows:
30-October
Australia 01:55 to 01:14 UTC
Africa and Europe 08:37 to 09:07
South America and East USA 15:32 to 15:47
31-October
Australia 02:55 to 03:10 UTC
Africa and Europe 09:35 to 10:08
South America 16:30 to 16:47
06-November
Australia 02:16 to 02:34 UTC
Africa to Europe 08:54 to 09:26
South America 13:52 to 14:12
07-November
Indonesia and Japan 01:52 to 02:06 UTC
Africa to Europe 09:55 to 10:25
Western USA 16:50 to 17:06
Times are UTC. Uplink is on 436.291 MHz (+/- doppler up to 9 kHz).
Downlink is on 145.825 MHz.
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 (at times) testing on 437.025 MHz at a
baud rate of 38,400 (38k4).
G7UPN also tells ANS that UO-36 is severely power limited and Chris
is working on a new protocol to allow the downlink to only be switched
on over active ground stations. "Once we get this going, UO-36 will be
running the 38k4 downlink, and will be available when spacecraft
resources (primarily power) permit," said G7UPN.
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]
ITAMSAT IO-26
Uplink 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM 1200 baud
Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB
Semi-operational, digipeater function is 'on'.
IO-26 was launched on the September 26, 1993.
Alberto, I2KBD, reports IO-26 has been opened to APRS use. ITAMSAT
ground controllers have switched the digipeater function to 'on'.
[ANS thanks ITAMSAT Project Manager Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD, for this
information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-297.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 297.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 24, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-297.07
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.
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.
TECHSAT-1B GO-32
Downlink 435.225 MHz using HDLC telemetry
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 has again received minimal telemetry
from the satellite recently, dated October 22nd.
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.
/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
----
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