[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
[jamsat-news:1239] ANS 072
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 072
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 Portland, Maine
- October 27-29, 2000 - at the 18th Space Symposium and
AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting. The 2000 Symposium Chairman
is George Caswell Sr., W1ME.
More information is available at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/symposium (or)
w1me@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 area (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 former ANS Editor,
'BJ' Arts, WT0N.
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-072.01
PHASED 3D TRANSPORTATION COSTS
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 072.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 12, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-072.01
As reported last week in ANS-065.01, AMSAT-DL's Peter Guelzow,
DB2OS, broke the exciting news on how the Phase 3D next-generation
Amateur Radio satellite has been tentatively scheduled for launch in late
July.
This week, Richard Limebear, G3RWL, on behalf of AMSAT-UK, tells
ANS (via the GB2RS/RSGB News Service) about the cost of
transporting the Phase 3D satellite to the launch site. The bulletin reads
as follows:
The Phase-3D spacecraft now has a launch on Ariane flight 507
currently scheduled for late July. The satellite itself is sitting in a
clean room in Kourou, French Guiana, in its packing case, waiting for
the launch campaign to start in a few month's time.
At this time it can also be announced that AMSAT-UK has paid
$23,739.00 (UK pounds 15,450) for the cost of shipping Phase 3D
from Atlanta to the launch site at Kourou. The cost of trucking the
satellite from the Orlando Integration facility to the Atlanta airport
($1,000.00) was met by AMSAT-ZL. Both of these are superb
examples of Amateur Radio operators, worldwide, contributing to the
overall costs of the Phase 3D project.
According the G3RWL, the $23,739.00 payment was met from the
AMSAT-UK Phase-3D fund, which, prior to this expense, last year also
presented AMSAT-NA President Keith Baker, KB1SF, with a check for
$13,340.00 - to be used to purchase thermal blankets for the spacecraft.
On hearing of the AMSAT-UK, and AMSAT-ZL financial contributions
to Phase 3D, the Executive Vice President of AMSAT-NA, Robin
Haighton, VE3FRH, told ANS that "it is assistance such as this, from
these AMSAT organizations that really make Phase 3D a truly
international effort, not only in technical aspects but also providing
a financial partnership."
Phase-3D costs are not yet totally complete and the AMSAT-UK fund
(and AMSAT-NA) remain open for further contributions.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and Richard Limebear, G3RWL, for this
information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-072.02
FIRST ISS CALLSIGN ISSUED
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 072.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 12, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-072.02
AMSAT's Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, on behalf of the ARISS International
Team, recently released the following International Space Station news
on both the AMSAT-NA bulletin board and the SAREX reflector:
Members of the Amateur Radio International Space Station (ARISS)
team in the U.S. received word from the Russian team that a Russian
station license has been granted for the ISS ham radio station. This
license is valid for all Amateur Radio hardware that will be located in
the Russian Segment. It will support the operation and use of the ham
radio station in all of the Russian provided segments of ISS. This
includes the Zarya module that is currently on-orbit and the Zvezda
Service Module that is planned for launch this summer.
During a recent telephone conversation, AMSAT-RU team member Sergei
Samburov, RK3DR, informed the U.S. Technical Team that the Russian
Federation Communications Oversight Commission has granted a license
to operate a "ham radio station of the highest public usage category" for
the ISS Russian Segment. The ARISS U.S. team received a copy of the
license on March 2, 2000. Since that time, NASA has translated the
Russian Cyrillic to English for the team.
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS-International Administrative Chairman
explained to ANS that "this specific license enables the on-orbit ISS
crews to operate all Amateur Radio modes and bands. It is a critical step
in our future operations of ham radio on ISS. We are excited that the
Russian team has made significant progress and we now have our first
license in place."
Sergei Samburov explained to the ham team that this license is required
before any ham radio equipment can be installed in the Russian Segment.
The station license call sign is RZ3DZR. It is valid through March 2, 2005.
The ARISS International team is working on a long-term plan for a single,
international ISS station license. This will allow all the international
crew
members to operate different hardware that will comprise the ham radio
station in any part of the ISS without third party restrictions in their
country. This was discussed at the ARISS meeting in Surrey, England in
July 1998 and at the IARU Satellite Meeting during the 1999 AMSAT-NA
symposium in San Diego, California. It is also an agenda topic for the
upcoming ARISS meeting that will be held near Amsterdam later this
month. The ARISS team is working with the IARU to develop a long term,
international solution. In the meantime, the team is pursuing licenses in
each of the member countries. The U.S. team will soon apply for a station
license to allow Bill Shepard, KD5GSL, to use the station later this year.
For more information on the ISS assembly sequence, see the following
URL:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/assembly/index.html
[ANS thanks Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO, and the ARISS International Team
for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-072.03
AMSAT CALL FOR PAPERS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 072.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 12, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-072.03
AMSAT-NA 2000 Symposium Chairman George Caswell Sr., W1ME,
has released the first call to authors who wish to submit papers for
presentation and publication in the proceedings of the 2000 Symposium.
The 18th AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium will be held
October 27-29, 2000 (Friday-Sunday) at the Holiday Inn West, in
Portland Maine.
Topics covering the diverse aspects of Amateur Radio satellite
disciplines are sought from throughout the entire AMSAT community.
If authors do not wish to present a paper, but have a topic of interest,
they are asked to submit the topic and arrangements can be made for
presentation and publication in the proceedings. With the imminent
launch of Phase 3D, it is expected that many of the topics will center
around AMSAT's most ambitious satellite project.
Key deadline dates for authors are:
May 1, 2000: Tentative call due. Authors should submit the name and
title of their paper to W1ME via e-mail or postal mail.
June 1, 2000: Final due date for one-page abstracts. When submitting
abstracts, authors should include a time preference for when they want to
actually present their paper. Authors will be advised by e-mail or postal
mail shortly after June 1, 2000 regarding whether their paper has been
accepted or not.
August 1, 2000: Camera ready copy due. This is the final due date for
authors to submit camera-ready copy of papers (authors are urged to
submit their papers in advance of this deadline). Upon receipt, papers
will only be superficially edited and will generally be printed as
submitted.
Authors are asked to refer to past proceedings for a grammatical layout
of papers. Authors are also requested to provide an electronic copy
(preferably in any version of MS Word or WordPerfect) in the event a
disaster is spotted and can be corrected at the last minute.
In September, authors will be provided with a tentative Symposium
agenda that will provide an agenda for presentations. Each presentation
will be limited to approximately 20 minutes.
Please send abstracts and papers to Symposium Chair:
George Caswell Sr., W1ME
16 Westwood Avenue
Scarborough, Maine 04074
E-mail: w1me@amsat.org
More information is available at the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/symposium
[ANS thanks Caroline Caswell and AMSAT-NA Symposium Chair George
Caswell Sr., W1ME, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-072.04
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 072.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 12, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-072.04
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** New ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, along with a League
leadership team, enhanced the visibility of Amateur Radio during a recent
visit to Washington, D.C. and the FCC. Haynie says he and the other
League officials promoted the value of Amateur Radio at every stop and
put in a good word with FCC officials in favor of expanding PRB-1 into
private-sector agreements. -ARRL Letter
** The Fourth Annual Southeastern VHF Society Technical Conference
will take place in Marietta, Georgia on April 14-15, 2000. The conference
promises to be an interesting and exciting event with technical papers
and presentations from accomplished VHF/UHF Amateur Radio
enthusiasts. In addition, antenna gain measurements, pre-amp gain and
noise figure measurements will be featured along with the Friday evening
auction and the Saturday evening banquet. The guest speaker at the
banquet is Joel Harrison W5ZN, ARRL Vice President. Registration,
program details and hotel and travel information can be found at:
http://www.svhfs.org/svhfs. -Robin, KB4IDC
** Several recent launches: Orbital's ground launched Taurus rocket
successfully boosted and deployed an experimental imaging satellite for
the U.S. Department of Energy. A Russian Proton rocket has placed a
communications satellite into orbit using a the same type of launcher that
will be used in July to launch the service module of the International
Space Station. A global telecommunications satellite launched from a
Zenith rocket Sunday failed to reach orbit after diverting from its
intended trajectory, Russian flight control reported. -SpaceDaily
** Many satellite operators know John, LA2QAA. What they might not
know is that John has had three heart attacks and is currently awaiting
a decision on bypass surgery. John is still active on the satellites, but
not at the level of past years. If anyone wants to say hello to John and
pass along an encouraging word, they can catch him at:
La2qaa@amsat.org. -Malc, G7NFO
** Keith, N4ZQ, (and others) have been busy with Feld Hell on AO-10.
For those not familiar with Feld Hell, it is an analog text transmission
method that was developed in 1929 by Rudolf Hell. Using today's digital
signal processing technology along with a computer sound card, ham
operators can get on this mode very easily. More information is available
at: http://www.freeweb.org/varie/ninopo/iz8bly/Hell/index.htm.
-AMSAT BB
** Things are coming along nicely for Aurora 2000, to be held April 29th
in Brooklyn Park, MN. Weather permitting, there will be an outdoor flea
market and an antenna range for 144 MHz-1296 MHz. Indoors, there will
be pre-amp measuring and alignment and a general workbench for power
measuring up to 1300 MHz. Even Phase 3D information will be covered.
-Donn, WA2VOI/0
** The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has upheld the FCC's
1996 RF exposure guidelines. The court also turned away a challenge to
the FCC's exclusive ability to regulate relevant radio facility operations.
The wide-ranging challenge was brought by the Cellular Phone
Taskforce joined by other petitioners including the Communications
Workers of America. -ARRL Letter
** Hey satellite operators. the ARRL Technical Information Service folks
have put together an excellent Phase 3D resource page on the ARRL
Web site. The next-generation Phase 3D Amateur Radio satellite has a
tentative ride aboard Ariane 507 in late July. The Phase 3D resource site
includes links to the latest Phase 3D news, the AMSAT-NA site, the
official transponder frequency list, and other information including past
QST articles dealing with P3D topics. Check it out at the following URL:
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/p3d.html. -NN0DJ
** Some doorstep astronomy from ANS. look northeast these evenings
to spot the Big Dipper standing upright on its handle. Very far down to its
lower right, bright Arcturus rises in mid-evening. -S&T
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-072.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 072.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 12, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-072.05
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.
AC5DK's RS-12/13 Satellite Operators Page:
http://www.qsl.net/ac5dk/rs1213/rs1213.html
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.
Mike, N1JEZ, reports RS-15 is currently operating with an active
beacon, but it's an unmodulated carrier on for 5 seconds then
off for 2 seconds, continually repeating the cycle. The transponder is
only active when the beacon is on! Despite this Mike reports downlink
signals were S-3 to S-5.
Dave, WB6LLO, has operating information for both RS-15 and RS-13
on his 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.
DX continues to be worked (and heard) on AO-10. Mike, N1JEZ, recently
worked the FO0AAA Clipperton Island DXpedition, as did Jon, KE9NA.
N1JEZ also snagged PJ8/N1MEZ on UO-14 (for two new DXCC countries).
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.
Tony, W7EWC, tells ANS he plans to be active on AO-27 from the
Bahamas as W7EWC/C6A during the entire month of March.
An AO-27 question-and-answer page is available on the AMSAT-NA
web site. The URL is:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/intro/ao27faq.html
AO-27 uses a method called Timed Eclipse Power Regulation (TEPR)
to regulate the on-board batteries. In simple terms, TEPR times how
long the satellite has been in an eclipse (or in the sun) and decides
what subsystems to turn on or off. The AO-27 pages on the AMSAT-NA
web site include an explanation of AO-27 operations (at):
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/ao27.html
Chuck, KM4NZ, recently reset the TEPR states on AO-27 (on 02/12/2000).
TEPR 4 is 22 TEPR 5 is 58
[ANS thanks Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ, and Michael Wyrick, N4USI, for
AO-27 information]
UO-14
Uplink 145.975 MHz FM
Downlink 435.070 MHz FM
Operational, mode J.
Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO reported on the AMSAT bulletin board
that UO-14 --launched in January 1990-- spent its first 18 months in
orbit operating as an Amateur Radio store-and-forward satellite. It was
then switched for use by Volunteers in Technical Assistance, who used it
for medical 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," reported G7UPN. "It is, however,
possible to use the satellite as a single-channel FM voice repeater, and I
have configured the satellite to do this."
Mike, N1JEZ reports working PJ8/N1MEZ via UO-14.
Tim, KG8OC, has updated the Michigan AMSAT Information Site
with UO-14 information, point your web browser to the following URL:
http://www.qsl.net/kg8oc
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, for UO-14 information]
SUNSAT SO-35
Operational. SunSat has been in mode-B (FM) using an uplink
of 436.291 MHz (+/- doppler) and a 145.825 MHz downlink.
SunSat was launched February 23, 1999 aboard a Delta II rocket from
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, recently celebrating its first
year in orbit.
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.
The announced SunSat schedule is as follows:
March 15, 2000
Europe 20:54 to 21:08 UTC
South America 23:33 to 23:47
USA 03:18 to 03:32
March 16, 2000
Australia 10:36 to 10:50 UTC
Japan 23:50 to 00:04
USA 04:18 to 04:32
March 17, 2000
Australia 11:35 to 11:49 UTC
Europe 21:13 to 21:27
South America 23:52 to 00:06
March 18, 2000
Australia 23:48 to 00:02 UTC
RSA 08:08 to 08:22
Europe 06:53 to 07:07
USA 15:07 to 15:21
March 19, 2000
Japan 23:28 to 23:42 UTC
RSA 07:28 to 07:42
South America 12:30 to 12:44
USA 14:27 to 14:41
For more information on SunSat, visit the following URL:
http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za
A summary of the active modes and frequency allocations
for SunSat is available at the following URL:
http://esl.ee.sun.ac.za/~lochner/sunsat/modes.html
[ANS thanks Garth Milne ZR1AFH, for this 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.
JAS-1b (FO-20) was launched in February 1990 and continues
to function quite well. Tony, AB2CJ, has been QRV on FO-20
using the Hellschreiber mode.
[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
Operational, rotated with digital mode and digi-talker.
JAS-2 was successfully launched on August 17, 1996, by an H-II
launch vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Center. Mineo,
JE9PEL, recently downloaded FO-29 telemetry and reported the
results on the AMSAT-BB.
Digital Mode JD
Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM
Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK
Digitalker 435.910 MHz
Operational, rotated with analog mode and digi-talker.
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:
through March 20th - JA
March 21-24th - JD1200
March 25-April 2nd - JA
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-072.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 072.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 12, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-072.06
KITSAT KO-25
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 436.500 MHz FM
Operational.
Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-25 is operational with an approximate 50%
downlink efficiency on data throughput.
[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.
Chris Jackson, G7UPN, reports to ANS that UO-22 has now entered full
sunlight and the temperatures have increased considerably. Controllers
have turned the satellite upside down to point the critical systems to cold
space. This has reduced the temperature on various systems (such as
the batteries) by between 5 and 10 degrees. The unfortunate by-product
of this is that the downlink is now quite weak.
The satellite will remain in full sunlight until late March, when
controllers
will turn it back 'over' again. According to G7UPN "over the next few
years this situation will become worse as the no-eclipse periods
become longer."
Only the 145.900 MHz receiver is usable for communications at the
moment.
More information on the satellite is available at the following URL:
http://www.sstl.co.uk/
[ANS thanks 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.
Clive Wallis, G3CWV, reports that during the period of 15-January to
15-February good signals have been received from the 145 MHz
beacon. The battery voltage during daylight passes has dropped
slightly. The average value observed was 13.8 volts, with a range of
13.6 to 14.1 volts. The internal temperatures have decreased slightly.
They are now 5.0C and 3.2C for battery and telemetry electronics
respectively. A WOD survey dated (January 6th) has been transmitted.
The mode-S beacon is on and transmitting an unmodulated carrier.
The beacon is a useful test source for testing mode-S converters prior
to the launch of P3-D.
The operating schedule is as follows:
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]
LUSAT LO-19
Uplink 145.84 145.86 145.88 145.90 MHz FM
using 1200 baud Manchester FSK
CW downlink 437.125 MHz
Digital downlink 437.150 MHz SSB RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK
Currently semi-operational. The CW beacon is sending eight telemetry
channels and one status channel. Currently, no BBS service is available.
The digipeater is active.
Mineo, JE9PEL, has recorded LO-19 CW and PSK telemetry and
placed the information on his Internet homepage site at:
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/
Telemetry is as follows:
Time is Fri Mar 10 22:30:40 2000 uptime is 588/08:47:23
+10V Bus 10.668 V RC PSK TX Out 0.630 W
Bat 1 Temp 4.057 D Bat 2 Temp 4.618 D
Baseplt Temp 3.496 D RC PSK BP Temp 1.252 D
RC PSK HPA Tmp 0.692 D +Y Array Temp -16.696 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp 0.692 D +Z Array Temp -12.770 D
Total Array C= 0.008 Bat Ch Cur=-0.277 Ifb= 0.119 I+10V= 0.164
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 LO-19 status information]
PACSAT AO-16
Uplink 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.86 MHz FM
using 1200 baud Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.025 MHz SSB RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK
Mode-S Beacon 2401.1428 MHz
Semi-operational.
Russ, WJ9F, reports ground stations are currently running memory test
software on the satellite. After loading the file server software the
satellite reverted back to MBL mode after about 3 minutes. Russ and his
team are evaluating if a write to memory glitch may have caused the
problem. In addition to the memory testing, the spacecraft spin rate
around the vertical (Z) axis has created a less than ideal condition for
battery charging.
The S-band transmitter is currently off.
Kazu, JJ1WTK, reports the AO-16 signal is weaker than before but
perfectly decodable. The JJ1WTK spin rate measurement is also
on going. The current spin rate is about 18 revolutions per minute.
Telemetry is as follows:
Time is Fri Mar 10 22:28:38 2000 uptime is 026/18:59:28
+10V Bus 10.600 V +X (RX) Temp -5.448 D
RX Temp 9.075 D +Z Array Temp -7.868 D
Bat 1 V 1.275 V Bat 2 V 1.290 V
Bat 3 V 1.308 V Bat 4 V 1.290 V
Bat 5 V 1.306 V Bat 6 V 1.314 V
Bat 7 V 1.294 V Bat 8 V 1.306 V
+5V Bus 4.749 V +8.5V Bus 7.764 V
Bat 1 Temp 4.839 D Bat 2 Temp 5.444 D
Baseplt Temp 4.839 D PSK TX RF Out 1.308 W
+Y Array Temp -19.970 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 1.209 D
Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.396 Ifb= 0.207 I+10V= 0.213
TX:1008 BCR:1E PWRC:05B BT:1E 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]
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
Many of the high-resolution color images transmitted by TMSAT are
compressed using a UoSAT compression format. This format is
supported by the VK5HI CCD display program.
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for TO-31 status
information]
UoSAT-12 UO-36
Uplink 145.960 MHz 9600 baud FSK
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 BBS is open, although uploading may be disabled at times.
UO-36 ground control finished Merlion operations recently with limited
coverage over the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The
operations generated a carrier at about 1-watt of power on 2401 MHz.
The VK5HI 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, the digipeater function is on.
IO-26 was launched on the September 26, 1993.
Alberto, I2KBD, reports IO-26 has been opened to APRS use.
[ANS thanks ITAMSAT Project Manager Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD, for this
information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-072.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 072.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 12, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-072.07
THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE
NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME:
KITSAT KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Non-operational.
AA7KC reports KO-23 is (again) non-operational. The last data was
received on March 2nd. The observed pass of KO-23 on March 4th had
the same results. KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, reports (from the KO-23
control team) that part of the problem with non-operation has been the
power budget aboard the satellite.
Stay tuned to ANS for further information.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ,
for KO-23 status information]
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
Non-operational. No operation in 2000 has been observed.
TECHSAT-1B GO-32
Downlink 435.225 MHz using HDLC telemetry
Efforts were reported to be underway to bring GO-32 on line,
however no additional information has been received by ANS
since November 1999.
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/
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.
For more information, visit the official PanSat web site at:
http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/pansat/
PanSat was the featured cover article on the July/August 1999 issue
of the AMSAT-NA Journal (written by KD6DRA and N7HPR).
[ANS thanks Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, for this information]
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.
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 or 2000 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 or 2000 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.
SEDSAT-1 SO-33
Downlink 437.910 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions and
image and transponder recovery efforts have been unsuccessful.
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.
SedSat-1 has downlinked months worth of telemetry data on the
performance of its electrical power system parameters. The Nickel
Metal Hydride batteries on the spacecraft were experimental and
experienced some abuse due to a power negative situation. This
information has provided NASA with useful information. With the
exception of the imaging system and the use of the transponders,
SedSat-1 has been judged a success.
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.
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
----
Via the ans mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe ans" to Majordomo@amsat.org