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[jamsat-news:1244] ANS 079
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 079
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 Sherman Carr,
W9NGT, who is credited with being the father of SKYWARN. Carr, of
Hartford, Wisconsin - died March 15th. He was 83. Carr was an ARRL
member for nearly 40 years. W9NGT was Wisconsin Section
Emergency Coordinator in the late 1960s when he established the first
Amateur Radio weather-spotting network. Carr's idea worked so well
that other states adopted its basic structure, which eventually was
implemented as SKYWARN.
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-079.01
CALL FOR PAPERS
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 079.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 19, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-079.01
The 15th AMSAT-UK Colloquium -also known as AMSAT Space
2000- will be held at Surrey University, Guildford, Surrey, United
Kingdom, later this summer.
The official dates are July 28-30, 2000. The Colloquium organizer is
well-known satellite enthusiast Richard Limebear, G3RWL.
AMSAT-UK invites authors to submit papers about the Amateur Radio
space service (and associated activities) for this event. Papers will also
be published in the Colloquium Proceedings document. Normally,
authors are asked to present their papers in person, but unpresented
papers are also welcomed and will be presented at the Colloquium in
the original author's absence.
According to G3RWL, offers of official papers should be submitted
as-soon-as-possible. The final date for full documents to be received
is June 15, 2000. This date is necessary so that the Proceedings
document can be made be available to Colloquium participants.
Submissions should be sent to G3RWL, via the following routes:
Internet e-mail: g3rwl@amsat.org
Packet radio: G3RWL@ B7HSN.#32.GBR.EU
Terrestrial mail: RWL Limebear, G3RWL
60 Willow Road
Enfield EN1 3NQ
United Kingdom
AMSAT-UK also invites anyone with requests for program topics to
submit them as soon as possible to G3RWL. Richard tells ANS that
"obviously we are hoping for many presentations about the Phase 3D
satellite but we still want to hear about other satellite activity areas."
Additionally, AMSAT-UK will be offering sessions specifically for
beginners to the Amateur Radio Satellite Service during the Colloquium.
More information about the AMSAT-UK Colloquium can be found at the
following URL:
http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium.htm
[ANS thanks Colloquium Program Organizer Richard Limebear, G3RWL,
for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-079.02
NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN FOR YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 079.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 19, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-079.02
Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, reports to ANS that the nominating period for
the 'Young Ham of the Year Award' is now open. The award is presented
annually to a United States licensed radio amateur who is 18 years of
age or younger and who has provided outstanding service to the nation,
his community or the betterment of the state of the communications art
through the Amateur Radio service.
The Young Ham of the Year Award program was conceived in 1985 to
highlight the accomplishments of our nations many young radio
hobbyists and to encourage the entry of more young people into the
exciting and rewarding hobby of Amateur Radio. ANS is hoping that
the year 2000 winner might come from the Amateur Radio satellite
community.
Nominations must be submitted before May 30, 2000 on an official
application and accompanied by verification materials. Applications
forms are available at the following URL:
http://www.arnewsline.org
The award presentation is scheduled to take place at the 2000
Huntsville Hamfest later this summer.
[ANS thanks Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-079.03
OSCAR 11 CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 079.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 19, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-079.03
Clive Wallis, G3CWV, reports to ANS that OSCAR-11 has "completed
another year in orbit as it celebrated its sixteenth birthday on March 1st,
2000." According to Clive, the satellite is in good shape despite a few
minor problems which have arisen during its long existence in the very
harsh environment of outer space.
ANS congratulates the UoSAT team on this outstanding
accomplishment!
During the period of 15-February to 16-March - good signals have
been received from the 145 MHz beacon. Battery voltage during daylight
passes has been unchanged. The average DC value observed was
13.8 volts, with a range of 13.4 to 14.1 volts. The internal satellite
temperatures have decreased by one degree Celsius. They are now
3.8C and 2.2C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. A
single WOD survey of channels 10, 20, 30 and 40 has been transmitted.
An ASCII bulletin is currently being transmitted, detailing modes and
frequencies of all the active Amateur Radio satellites. There are
additional status blocks after each bulletin is transmitted.
Clive reported to ANS that the mode-S beacon is also on, transmitting
an unmodulated carrier at a bit less than 1-watt of output power. The
beacon is a useful source for those testing mode-S converters, prior
to the launch of Phase 3-D.
More information about the satellite can be found at the following URL:
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/
[ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-079.04
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 079.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 19, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-079.04
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** Mark your calendar as the AMSAT-NA forum at the Dayton Hamfest is
scheduled for Saturday, May 20, 2000. More information about the
Dayton Hamfest can be found at: www.hamvention.org.
-Doug, KA8QCU
** SpaceDaily reports that the European Space Agency, the European
Commission and the European Organization for the Safety of Air
Navigation are making concrete progress in the development of a Global
Positioning and Navigation Satellite System, dubbed GNSS.
-SpaceDaily
** NASA reports that workers accidentally damaged an antenna on
shuttle Atlantis recently as they were preparing the ship for an April
flight
to the International Space Station. With assessments ongoing, NASA
officials can't say yet whether the repairs will delay Atlantis from its
targeted April 13th launch. NASA will also replace a main engine on
Atlantis, fearing it could have faulty parts that should have been
scrapped. -Florida Today
** Russia has opened a serious dialogue with China to assist them in
building their own space station. The Russian Deputy Prime Minister
gave the news recently to the Tass News Agency. -Space Daily
** With their $5 billion constellation of 66 satellites now on the verge of
destruction, Iridium officials recently were given approval to begin
shutting down the company's mobile phone system. Approval for the
shutdown, which will affect 55,000 customers, came from a U.S.
bankruptcy court in New York City after no big-name rescuer stepped
forward to bail out the company. Barring the emergence of a financial
savior, Iridium will cut off service to customers and then start to deorbit,
and destroy, the satellites. The de-orbiting process could take as long as
two years. -Florida Today
** The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act bill now has supporting
legislation in the U.S. Senate. Idaho Senator Michael Crapo has
introduced a bill that mirrors the house bill, HR-783. The Senate
measure has been designated S-2183. Like the House version, the
Senate bill, if enacted, would require the FCC to provide equivalent
replacement spectrum should it ever be necessary to reallocate Amateur
Radio frequencies for some other purpose. -ARRL
** An ocean-based Sea Launch rocket failed recently, apparently falling
into the Pacific Ocean with its $100 million communications satellite.
Launch controllers lost contact with the rocket, a Russian-Ukrainian
Zenit-3SL, a few minutes after liftoff from a floating platform about 1,400
miles southeast of Hawaii. Hughes Space and Communications of
El Segundo, Calif. built the 6,050-pound satellite, for ICO Global
Communications Ltd. of London. -Florida Today
** Arianespace has scheduled the next Ariane 5 launch. Flight 128 will
orbit the dual payload of the AsiaStar and Insat 3B satellites. Following
preventive checks on the AsiaStar satellite, preparations are complete
for the Flight 128/Ariane 505 launch between 22:57 and 23:44 UTC on
March 21, 2000. -Peter, DB2OS
** The SETI League will hold its annual meeting March 26th, at SETI
League Headquarters in New Jersey. A non-profit organization, the
SETI League supports a privately funded radio search for extraterrestrial
intelligence, and its membership includes many Amateur Radio
operators. The executive director is Paul Shuch, N6TX. -ARRL Letter
** The launch of the IMAGE satellite (Imager for Magnetopause-to-
Aurora Global Exploration) for the Southwest Research Institute is
currently scheduled aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket on Saturday,
March 25th - from NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg
Air Force Base, California. The IMAGE satellite is the first spacecraft
dedicated to imaging the Earth's magnetosphere, a region of space
controlled by the Earth's magnetic field that contains extremely tenuous
plasmas of both solar and terrestrial origin. -Florida Today
** The ARRL has formally asked the FCC to reconsider and modify two
aspects of its December 30, 1999, Report and Order that restructured
the Amateur Radio rules. The League wants the FCC to continue to
maintain records that indicate whether a Technician licensee has
Morse code element credit. It also seeks permanent Morse element
credit for any Amateur Radio applicant who has ever passed an
FCC-recognized Morse exam of at least 5-wpm. -ARRL Letter
** Some doorstep astronomy from ANS: Look south at nightfall for Sirius,
the brightest star in the sky. It's also called the Dog Star, being the
brightest star of the constellation Canis Major, the Big Dog. Other
leading stars of Canis Major are Mirzam, to Sirius's right and a bit lower,
and the triangle of Adhara, Wezen, and Aludra, twice as far to Sirius's
lower left. These three stars mark the dog's hindquarters and tail. Also
look for Orion tilting down in the southwest after dark. Note that Orion's
Belt (the row of three stars in the middle of the constellation) is roughly
horizontal. This is another sign of spring. When Orion rises during the
cold evenings around the start of winter, the belt is vertical. When Orion
makes his springtime exit, the belt is horizontal. -S&T
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-079.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 079.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 19, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-079.05
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.
John, K6YK, reports a QSO with OK1DIG via RS-13. OK1DIG
was on the 15-meter uplink, K6YK on 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. Eddie, DU1EV, has
been active.
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. Ray, W2RS, recently updated the information.
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 03/19/2000).
TEPR 4 is 28 TEPR 5 is 64
[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."
John, K6YK, reports UO-14 has been a big hit with many mobiles and
portables. John says that working UO-14 with a mobile/potable setup is
fairly easy (using a dual band HT, preamp, duplexer and two mobile
whips). Andrea, IT9GSV, reports very strong signals. Al, XE2YVW, was
active from DL90, in Queretaro, Mexico. Eddie, DU1EV, reports working
Japan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia 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.
Due to an improvement in its power budget, SunSat's Mode B repeater
will now also be enabled on most weekday evenings (except Monday).
A schedule of the active passes can be found at:
http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za/ham1.htm
GPS data is currently collected on Mondays. It takes as much as
twelve hours to fully recover the state of charge after these
experiments.
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.
[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:
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-079.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 079.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 19, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-079.06
KITSAT KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Operational.
AA7KC reports KO-23 is (again) operational. Jim says KO-23 returned to
service recently with very good performance. User traffic is low.
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.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ,
for KO-23 status information]
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 to ANS that OSCAR-11 has "completed
another year in orbit as it celebrated its sixteenth birthday on March 1st,
2000." According to Clive, the satellite is in good shape despite a few
minor problems which have arisen during its long existence in the very
harsh environment of outer space.
During the period of 15-February to 16-March - good signals have
been received from the 145 MHz beacon. Battery voltage during daylight
passes has been unchanged. The average DC value observed was
13.8 volts, with a range of 13.4 to 14.1 volts. The internal satellite
temperatures have decreased by one degree Celsius. They are now
3.8C and 2.2C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. A
single WOD survey of channels 10, 20, 30 and 40 has been transmitted.
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:
Uptime is 596/20:26:13. Time is Sun Mar 19 10:09:30 2000
+10V Bus 11.227 V +Z Array V 22.506 V
+X (RX) Temp 0.692 D RX Temp 0.131 D
BCR Set Point 133.308 C BCR Load Cur 0.145 A
Bat 1 Temp 1.252 D Bat 2 Temp 1.813 D
RC PSK TX Out 0.659 W RC PSK BP Temp 5.740 D
RC PSK HPA Tmp 6.861D +Y Array Temp 0.692 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp 5.179 D +Z Array Temp 1.252 D
Total Array C= 0.223 Bat Ch Cur= 0.092 Ifb= 0.054 I+10V= 0.092
TX:017 BCR:88 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:
Uptime is 035/06:42:57. Time is Sun Mar 19 10:12:23 2000
+10V Bus 11.150 V +Z Array V 21.585 V
+X (RX) Temp 10.285 D RX Temp -1.212 D
BCR Set Point 131.381 C BCR Load Cur 0.428 A
BCR Input Cur 0.530 A BCR Output Cur 0.394 A
Bat 1 Temp 5.444 D Bat 2 Temp 7.260 D
Baseplt Temp 4.839 D PSK TX RF Out 1.909 W
RC PSK BP Temp -0.002 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 1.209 D
+Y Array Temp -1.212 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 3.629 D
+Z Array Temp 21.177 D
Total Array C= 0.473 Bat Ch Cur=-0.034 Ifb= 0.058 I+10V= 0.370
TX:1009 BCR:88 PWRC:05B BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:FE
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-079.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 079.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 19, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-079.07
THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE
NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME:
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
(the last report was dated 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 never been released.
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
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