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[jamsat-news:1232] * SpaceNews 28-Feb-00 *
SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0228
* SpaceNews 28-Feb-00 *
BID: $SPC0228
=========
SpaceNews
=========
MONDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2000
* UoSAT-OSCAR-14 NEWS *
=======================
UoSAT-OSCAR-14 was launched in January 1990 and spent its first 18 months
in orbit operating as an amateur store and forward satellite prior to the
launch of UO-22. It was then switched for use by VITA (Volunteers In
Technical Assistance) who used it for messaging into Africa.
Since the computer which is used for store and forward communications is no
longer able to perform that task, UO-14 is no longer usable in this mode.
The satellite has the capability of being configured to perform as a single
channel FM repeater with an input on 145.975 MHz, and a downlink on
435.070 MHz, and spacecraft controller Chris Jackson, G7UPN has recently
configured the satellite to do just this. He will leave the satellite
running in this mode for the next few weeks. If it is useful, then he
will probably leave it running. If it isn't used, it will be switched
into a mode that only transmits spacecraft telemetry.
Since it was switched into this mode less than one week ago, UO-14 has
become very popular as an FM repeater in space. Unfortunately, its uplink
is only 5 kHz below KO-25's uplink, and both satellites are tracking close
to one another in their orbits at the present time. As a result, KO-25's
uplink is often blocked by FM stations accessing UO-14, and several UO-14
users have reported hearing 9600 baud data transmissions destined for KO-25
through UO-14. The problem should eventually clear up as the two satellites
slowly drift apart over time.
[Info via Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO]
* AMRAD-OSCAR-27 NEWS *
=======================
Markus, HB9JNH, has reported that he will be operating from Svalbard as
JW/HB9JNH on March 2-5. He plans to bring his AO-27 equipment (Kenwood
TH-D7 handheld and dual-band dipole) as well as an HF station.
[Info via Ray Soifer, W2RS]
* OSCAR-36 NEWS *
=================
Chris Jackson reports that OSCAR-36 (UoSAT-12) is operating normally on
437.400 MHz with a 38k4 downlink. Chris advises that users keep their
Keplerian orbital data up to date since spacecraft controllers have been
performing a number of propulsion system firings, and orbital data for
OSCAR-36 goes out of date quite quickly as a result.
* ISS HAM GEAR TRAINING *
=========================
The first International Space Station expedition crew and its backup crew
have received some initial training on the use of the initial US-provided
Amateur Radio gear to be installed as part of the Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station, or ARISS, effort. The session was conducted
at Russia's Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center.
As part of the ARISS training effort, NASA's Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL, is
preparing a consolidated schedule for training in the US and in Russia that
will include familiarization with equipment, packet theory and hands-on
training, using a hardware mockup, and simulation. Training will focus on
general principles of ham radio as well as preparations to use ham radio,
equipment types and operating modes, and general packet module information
and software.
Bordelon has held an initial training session with astronauts and cosmonauts
that provided exposure to the actual hardware. Other training has included
the information required to obtain an US Amateur Radio license. The first
ISS crew includes US astronaut Bill Shepherd, KD5GSL, and Russian Cosmonauts
Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, and the recently licensed Yuri Gaidzenko, whose call
sign was not available.
Meanwhile, the International Space Station continues to operate in good
working order, and is now in its fifteenth month in orbit.
Flight controllers continue to manage electrical power through the batteries
inside the Zarya module, recharging four of the six on-board power plants.
Battery 1, which has experienced some problems, will be replaced by Shuttle
astronauts later this year on the next mission to ISS.
Space Shuttle and ISS managers discussed the option of flying a maintenance
mission to the Station prior to the upcoming launch of the Zvezda module.
At the request of the ISS program, shuttle managers approved an option of
scheduling the next shuttle mission to the ISS Station no earlier than
April 13, 2000 (prior to the Zvezda launch), to perform maintenance tasks
on the Zarya and Unity modules.
The Kurs automatic docking system was tested twice recently without problems
in an effort to verify that the system is ready to support the rendezvous
with the Zvezda service module this summer. The Kurs system is the Russian
automatic docking system located inside Zarya used to rendezvous with the
service module for precise docking.
NASA managers also approved Shuttle mission STS-106 as the flight which will
follow the launch of the service module. Seven crewmembers will spend a week
docked to the ISS, loading supplies in the new Zvezda module and activating
some of its systems.
The International Space Station is in an orbit of 240 by 226 statute miles.
Since the launch of Zarya in 1998, the ISS has completed more than
7,105 orbits.
Space Station viewing opportunities worldwide are available on the
Internet at:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/
[Info via the ARRL Letter, Roy Neal K6DUE, and the AMSAT-NA News Service]
* 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/
MAIL: John A. Magliacane, KD2BD
Department of Engineering and Technology
Brookdale Community College
765 Newman Springs Road
Lincroft, New Jersey 07738
U.S.A.
PACKET: KD2BD @ N2TDU.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET: kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net
SATELLITE: AMSAT-OSCAR-16, KITSAT-OSCAR-25
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