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[jamsat-news:1309] * SpaceNews 31-Jul-00 *


SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0731
* SpaceNews 31-Jul-00 *

BID: $SPC0731


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


		 	  MONDAY JULY 31, 2000



* ZVEZDA DOCKS WITH ISS *
=========================
Two weeks after being successfully launched, the Russian-built Zvezda
module took its place as a part of the International Space Station after
executing a flawless, completely automated docking.  Zvezda becomes the
third piece of the station following the automated linkup.

With three modules now joined together, the orbiting outpost has grown
to nearly 120 feet in length.  Zvezda adds sleeping quarters, a galley,
toilet and working space for future resident astronauts and cosmonauts.
In addition to its life-support systems, the new module also brings more
capable guidance, propulsion and computer systems.  It will also be the
initial home of Amateur Radio operation from ISS.

The addition of Zvezda to the two elements already in orbit - Zarya and
Unity - sets the stage for the start of human habitation and scientific
research aboard the orbiting outpost.  A Russian Progress resupply
mission planned for August and two Shuttle flights scheduled for
September and October will ready the Space Station for the arrival
of the first crew who will begin living and working on board.

Over the coming days, flight engineers will test the mechanisms holding
the elements together and ensure that all seals are tight. In addition,
the ESA built 'Data Management System' computer aboard Zvezda will be
connected to the on-line Space Station systems and Zvezda will be
commanded to assume control of the Space Station.

With Zvezda in place the United States is now ready to begin a series
of flights to ISS, including:

	* A September resupply mission (STS-106)

	* An October mission attaching the first segment of the 300
	  foot long metal truss that will support massive solar arrays

	* A November flight to erect a power tower of solar panels

	* A January 2001 mission to connect a research laboratory

	* An April 2001 mission to attach a 55-foot robot arm

	* An August 2001 mission carrying experiments to the station

	* An October 2001 mission to attach the central truss section

For more information about the three modules now in orbit, visit the
following URL:

	http://www.shuttlepresskit.com/ISS_OVR/assembly2_overview.htm

[Info via the AMSAT-NA News Service]


* NEW SATELLITES ON THE HORIZON *
=================================
The first Amateur Radio Satellites from The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are
presently being built by the Space Research Institute at the King Abdulaziz
City for Science and Technology in Riyadh.  Tentatively set for launch
August 25, 2000, these satellites will be capable of 9k6 digital store and
forward operation (Pacsat Broadcast Protocol compatible) as well as FM bent
pipe mode.

These satellites will use the following downlink frequencies.  Uplinks are
in the VHF band and will be announced after commissioning.

		SAUDISAT-1A     SAUDISAT-1B
Downlink	437.075	MHz	436.775 MHz

Amateur Radio is in its infancy in Saudi Arabia.  With these satellites,
designers hope that not only to add addtional communication satellites to
the space resources available to hams world wide, but also to increase
the awareness of the value of Amateur Radio in the Kingdom.

The first Malaysian Amateur Satellite, TIUNGSAT-1, is also to be launched
on the same vehicle DNEPR-1 as SAUDISAT-1A and SAUDISAT-1B on 25th August,
2000.  The launch wll occur from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Khazakstan.

The details of Tiungsat-1  (Named by PM after the Malaysian bird 'Myna')
are as follows:

1) Dimension	690 x 390 x 360 mm
   Mass 	50 kg. (platform: 35 kg;  payload 15 kg.) 
		Solar Array Power: 35 W (max) GaAs solar cells

2) Payload	Multi-Spectral Earth Imaging System (MSEIS)
		Meteorological Earth Imaging system (MEIS)
		Digital Store and Forward
	
3) Orbit	Altitude: 645.1 km (apogee) / 639.7 km (perigee)
		Inclination: 65 - 67 degrees
		Eccentricity: 0.004  	

4) Data Transmission Characteristics:

		Data Transmission: FM and FSK
		Data Rate: 9.6 kbps, 38.4 kbps and 76.8 kbps

5) RF Communications:

		Uplinks Freqs:	144.46, 145.85, 145.86 MHz.
		Downlink Freqs:	437.300, 437.325, 437.350, 437.375 MHz. 
		Antennas:	4 monopoles, gain 0dBi
				Radiation pattern omni-directional

This spacecraft is the result of a technology transfer collaboration
between the Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd. (ATSB) and Surrey
Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL)

[Info via Dr. Turki Al Saud, and Sangat Singh, 9M2SS]


* MIR NEWS *
============
MirCorp's board of directors recently approved the permanently manned
operation of Mir beginning next year, marking a major milestone in the
company's plan to use this unique facility as the world's first true
commercial orbital space station.  The schedule of privately-financed
MirCorp flights begins with the launch of an unmanned resupply spacecraft
to Mir this fall, followed by two long-duration missions with cosmonauts
in 2001.  It is unknown what this may mean for possible Amateur Radio
operation from the station.

[Info via the AMSAT-NA News Service]


* NOAA-15 FAILURE *
===================
As of Friday 21-July-2000, the NOAA-15 AVHRR/3 failed.  It was put into
a "safe mode" so that the synchronization of this instrument would not
interfere with the HIRS/3, AMSU-A, and AMSU-B data being processed by the
onboard MIRP processor.  On Monday 24-July-2000, engineers tried to loosen
the HIRS/3 filter wheel shaft lubricant by heating up the filter wheel shaft.
Unfortunately, a strange set of circumstances created a situation where
some of the HIRS/3 channels were calibrated (incorrectly) and others had
zero value calibration coefficients appended (correctly).  As it turns out
the warming of the filter wheel shaft increased the temperature of the
filter wheel itself causing incorrect earth, blackbody and space channel
measurements.  In addition, the gross limits which are applied to the
calibration measurements were left wide open (a situation which should
only happen for one month after launch).  This combination of factors
resulted in the generation of bad calibration coefficients and the global
distribution of the data and its archival for eternity.  Currently the
HIRS/3 is returning to nominal temperatures, however, the internal
synchronization is only providing groundstations with 60% of the data
coverage.

The basic problem is that the cooling louvers on board NOAA-15 were not
wired prior to launch so the cooling of the AVHRR/3 and HIRS/3 could not
be done properly by opening these louvers.  The result is that these
instruments have not lasted six years as they have for NOAA-14 and several
other spacecraft, but only two years plus.

[Info via Mike Chalfant and Mike Kendzierski, N8UAD]


* AO-27 NEWS *
==============
AO-27 control stations Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ, reset the TEPR states on AO-27
on 26-Jul-2000 as follows:

	TEPR 4	46
	TEPR 5	82

[Info via Chuck, KM4NZ]


* SpaceNews FOR THE PALM *
==========================
Jeff Davis, N9AVG, will soon be making SpaceNews, and other satellite news
of interest to Amateur Radio operators, available in a format suitable for
reading on the PALM handheld computer.

Satellite news for the Palm will be available through Jeff's web site:

	http://n9avg.org/

[Info via Jeff Davis, N9AVG]
 

* THANKS! *
===========
Thanks to those who recently sent messages of appreciation for SpaceNews,
especially:

			AA4MD		WB6HGW


* 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:  KITSAT-OSCAR-25


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/EX

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