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[jamsat-news:1253] * SpaceNews 27-Mar-00 *


SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0327
* SpaceNews 27-Mar-00 *

BID: $SPC0327


			       =========
			       SpaceNews
			       =========


		 	 MONDAY MARCH 27, 2000



* IMAGE SATELLITE NEWS *
========================
NASA's IMAGE satellite, launched on March 25, will revolutionize our
understanding of Earth's magnetosphere.  Space weather data from the
innovative spacecraft will be freely available to the public on the web.
NASA scientists are also developing plans for down-to-earth listening
stations that HAM radio operators and others can build to capture the
data themselves.

Further information is available at:

	http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast24mar_1m.htm

[Info via NASA]


* FUJI-OSCAR-29 NEWS *
======================
The following is the latest FO-29 operating schedule:

Sat 25-Mar-00 - Sun 02-Apr-00 	Mode JA
Mon 03-Apr-00 - Thu 06-Apr-00	Mode JD 1200
Fri 07-Apr-00 - Sun 16-Apr-00	Mode JA
Mon 17-Apr-00 - Thu 20-Apr-00	Mode JD 1200
Fri 21-Apr-00 - Sun 07-May-00	Mode JA

[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]


* FODTRACK AND Y2K *
====================
Manfred, XQ2FOD, reports that contrary to earlier reports, FODTRACK
version 2.5 is fully year 2000 compliant.  In fact, FODTRACK was
Y2K compliant in versions issued several years ago.

[Info via Manfred, XQ2FOD]


* WEATHER SATELLITE ANNIVERSARY *
=================================
April 1, 2000, marks the 40th anniversary of the launch of the world's
first weather satellite.  The world's first weather satellite, a polar
orbiting satellite, was launched from Cape Canaveral on April 1, 1960.
Named "TIROS" for Television Infrared Observation Satellite, it demonstrated
the advantage of mapping the earth's cloud cover from satellite altitudes.
TIROS showed clouds banded and clustered in unexpected ways.  Sightings
 from the surface had not prepared meteorologists for the interpretation
of the cloud patterns that the view from an orbiting satellite would show.

Today, U.S. environmental satellites are operated by NOAA's National
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service in Suitland, Md.
NOAA's environmental satellite system is composed of two types of
satellites: geostationary operational environmental satellites for
national, regional, short-range warning and "now-casting;" and polar
orbiting environmental satellites for global, long-term forecasting
and environmental monitoring.  Both GOES and POES are necessary for
providing a complete global weather monitoring system.  Both also carry
search and rescue instruments to relay signals from aviators and mariners
in distress.

POES satellites monitor the entire Earth, tracking atmospheric variables
and providing atmospheric data and cloud images.  They track weather
patterns affecting the weather and climate of the United States.  The
satellites provide visible and infrared radiometer data for imaging
purposes, radiation measurements, and temperature and moisture profiles.
The polar orbiters' ultraviolet sensors also measure ozone levels in
the atmosphere and are able to detect the "ozone hole" over Antarctica
 from mid-September to mid-November.  Each day, these satellites send
global measurements to NOAA's Command and Data Acquisition station
computers, adding vital information to forecasting models, especially
for remote ocean areas, where conventional data are lacking.

GOES satellites are a mainstay of weather forecasting in the United
States.  They are the backbone of short-term forecasting or nowcasting.
The real-time weather data gathered by GOES satellites, combined with data
from Doppler radars and automated surface observing systems, greatly aids
weather forecasters in providing warnings of thunderstorms, winter storms,
flash floods, hurricanes, and other severe weather.  These warnings help
to save lives and preserve property.  The United States operates two
meteorological satellites in geostationary orbit, one over the East Coast
and one over the West Coast with overlapping coverage over the United
States.  Currently, GOES-8 and GOES-10 are in operation.

In addition, NOAA operates satellites in the Defense Meteorological
Satellite Program (DMSP), which are also polar-orbiting satellites.
NOAA also manages the processing and distribution of the millions of
bits of data and images the GOES and POES satellites produce each day.

[Info via NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center]


* 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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/EX

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