[jamsat-news:1351] ANS 289

[Dan James <DanJ@marvin.com>]

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 289

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 Symposium Chairman is
George Caswell Sr., W1ME.

The 2000 Symposium will include once top-secret details about
intelligence gathering methods used during the early years of the Cold
War. The Saturday banquet speaker will be Cargill Hall, chief historian
of the National Reconnaissance Office. He will discuss (for the first time
in public) overhead reconnaissance along with a history of CIA-NRO
activities.

More information is available at:

http://www.amsat.org/amsat/symposium

(or from) w1me@amsat.org

Information on AMSAT-NA is available at the following URL:

http://www.amsat.org (or from)

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)
* AMSAT K-12 Educational Liaison mailing list (AMSAT-K12)

A daily digest version is available for each list.

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 the man believed to
have been the oldest Amateur Radio operator in the U.S. Bill Dearing,
W5QN, of Bonham, Texas, died recently at a Dallas hospital. He was 101.
First authorized to operate a spark-gap transmitter by the US Department
of Commerce in 1913 or 1914, Dearing remained an active amateur until
his death. He obtained his W5QN call sign in 1927, the year the Federal
Radio Commission was established. [ANS thanks the ARRL for this
information]
 
ANS is also dedicated to the memory of past ANS editor 'BJ' Arts,
WT0N, and to the memory of long-time AMSAT supporter Werner
Haas, DJ5KQ.

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-289.01
PHASE 3D LAUNCH UPDATE

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 289.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 15, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-289.01

AMSAT-DL Executive Vice President Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, has
informed AMSAT News Service that the Phase 3D satellite is now
"ready to fly" as it has passed all pre-launch inspection, testing
and preparation.

The launch of P3D is scheduled for mid-November.

Phase 3D is currently being moved into the final assembly building
at the European Spaceport where it will remain "on hold" according
Peter. As P3D's launch partners also arrive in the building, the next
step will be to mate all the satellites to the Ariane 5 launch vehicle.

The launch team Internet web site has been popular with satellite
operators around the world. The site features photographs showing
the Phase 3D launch preparation process. To visit the site,
point your browser to:

http://www.amsat-dl.org/launch/

Stay tuned to ANS for additional bulletins from AMSAT, the
official source for information on the Phase 3D Launch.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-NA for this information and
congratulates the launch team on their outstanding work]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-289.02
DISCOVERY ISS MISSION UNDERWAY

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 289.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 15, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-289.02

Space shuttle Discovery thundered into orbit this past week, marking
NASA's 100th shuttle flight. The seven astronauts aboard are on a
crucial construction trip to the International Space Station.

Three Amateur Radio operators are aboard Discovery. They include
Mission Commander Brian Duffy, N5WQW, and Mission Specialists
Koichi Wakata, KC5ZTA, and Bill McArthur, KC5ACR. No Amateur
Radio activity is scheduled for this mission.

As reported by ANS, ARISS initial ham station gear was delivered last
month to the station and has been stowed until the Expedition 1 crew
arrives. That crew, U.S. astronaut Bill Shepherd, KD5GSL, Russian
Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, and Cosmonaut Yuri Gidzenko, are
scheduled for a four-month stay following a targeted for October 30th
launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Discovery will become an orbiting construction site as astronauts use
the shuttle's robot arm along with four spacewalks to attach two new
components to the growing outpost 240 miles above Earth. The largest
piece is an 18,300-pound metal structure called the Z-1 truss. It is the
first part of the station's framework that will eventually hold solar arrays
and stretch more than the length of a football field.
 
There are four large gyroscopes attached to Z-1, as well as two
communication antennas and a host of electronics gear. When
activated, the module will be the heart of the station's communications
system.

Discovery is scheduled to return to Earth October 22nd.

[ANS thanks NASA, ARISS, Florida Today and the ARRL for this
information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-289.03
TIUNGSAT-1 UPDATE

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 289.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 15, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-289.03

Chris Jackson, G7UPN, serving as the commissioning manager for one of
Amateurs Radio's newest satellites, tells ANS that TiungSat-1 is alive and
healthy. TiungSat-1 is Malaysia's first micro-satellite and in addition to
commercial land and weather imaging payloads will offer FM and FSK
Amateur Radio communication.

G7UPN reports the gravity gradient boom on TiungSat was deployed, with
the satellite now operating with a Z spin of 0.6 degrees per second. A
deliberation controller is damping the liberation angles and Chris reports
the full attitude control task software will be "loaded in a few days."

All systems have now been tested and the spacecraft is 100% healthy.
There are a few more tasks to complete before the spacecraft will be
opened to amateur traffic -- which G7UPN expects to be near the end of
October. Chris tells ANS that when the satellite is opened for initial use
the downlink will be at 9600 baud, then will be raised to higher speeds. 

[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN, for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-289.04
TAPR ELECTS NEW OFFICERS

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 289.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 15, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-289.04

Several new TAPR officers were elected during the 19th TAPR Digital
Communications Conference held recently. The conference was held in
conjunction with the ARRL.

The Tucson Amateur Packet Radio organization is a non-profit research
and development corporation dedicated to advancing Amateur Radio
through digital technology. The group focuses on development of
hardware and software tools that enable ham radio operators to explore
leading edge technologies. Despite its name, TAPR is an international
organization with over 2000 members worldwide.

John Ackermann, N8UR, was elected the new president of TAPR,
succeeding Greg Jones, WD5IVD. Jones had served as TAPR's
president since 1993.

AMSAT-NA's Steve Bible, N7HPR, was elected as vice president,
Bob Hanson, N2GDE, will continue to serve as secretary, and Jim
Neely, WA5LHS, remains treasurer.

N7HPR has been a TAPR Board member since 1996. In addition to
his AMSAT activities, Steve is the project manager for TAPR's Totally
Accurate Clock, EVM Radio Interface, PIC Encoder, and DGPS
Reference Station kits. N7HPR is also leading TAPR's development of
software defined radio technology for amateur use.

For more information, visit the TAPR web site at:

http://www.tapr.org

[ANS thanks TAPR for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-289.05
ANS IN BRIEF

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 289.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 15, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-289.05

ANS news in brief this week includes the following:

** A new North American distance record at 24-GHz is being claimed by
Ron Smith, K6GZA, and Gary Lauterbach, AD6FP. The calculated distance
of 375km is believed to be a new North American record. Both stations
used SSB with signals peaking to S-7, and levels good enough for
K6GZA and AD6FP to converse for several minutes. -ARRL

** Les, KD4SFD, tells ANS that he has just finished reading 'Failure
Is Not An Option', a book by Gene Kranz, former NASA Flight Director.
Les said it tells the story of how Kranz became a flight director and talks
about the trials and terrors of being one. KD4SFD tells ANS that "it is a
very good book to learn about one of the driving forces behind Mission
Control Center and the space program." -ANS

** NASA scientists are extremely pleased with the first image of Jupiter
from the Cassini spacecraft, which is closing in on a fly-by of the huge
planet. The image, first in a series of images and other measurements
of Jupiter which Cassini will be making over the next several months as
it flies by Jupiter, clearly shows the exceptional resolving power of the
imaging system on the satellite. -SpaceDaily

** In an effort to better document the extent of unlicensed operation on
10 meters, the International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 Monitoring
System is surveying member societies about the extent of the problem.
The ARRL is soliciting reports from U.S. hams to supplement its response
to the survey. -ARRL

** A new iceberg, 345 square miles in area, has splintered away from
Antarctic's Ross Ice Shelf in the Ross Sea, the National Ice Center has
reported. Iceberg B-20 was detected recently using the Defense
Meteorological Satellite Program's optical infrared system. The iceberg
will now be tracked to help shipping in the area avoid any possible
danger. -SpaceDaily

** The United Kingdom Radio Communications Agency has dropped the
age restriction to obtain a full Amateur Radio license. Previously,
applicants
had to be 14 years of age or over. Now, applicants in the UK who have
passed the radio amateur examination and Morse code test may apply
for a full license. -ARRL/RSGB

** The Ramapo Mountain Amateur Radio Club conducted a special-event
operation recently marking the official opening of a new public library
building in Ringwood, New Jersey where the club's monthly meetings take
place. The FCC has issued callsign, W2L, was used on passes of AO-27
and UO-14. -Ray, W2RS

** The fall burrowing owl monitoring project is now under way. U.S.
Amateur Radio operators with appropriate VHF radio equipment are
invited to help in tracking their migration as they pass over an area
stretching from Montana and North Dakota to Oklahoma, Texas and
beyond. Scientists believe the birds fly all the way from Saskatchewan
and Alberta to southern Texas and northern Mexico, but accurate data
is scarce and difficult to obtain. For more information visit the following
URL: http://www.homingin.com.  -ARRL

 --ANS BULLETIN END---

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-289.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 289.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 15, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-289.06

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/ARISS
Uplink		to be released
Downlink	to be released
ARISS initial station launched September 2000 aboard shuttle Atlantis
Status: Non-operational

The ARISS initial station gear is now temporarily stowed aboard the
Functional Cargo Block module of ISS. The initial station will use an
existing antenna that will be adapted to support 2-meter FM voice and
packet. The ARISS equipment will get a more-permanent home aboard
the Service Module in 2001, along with VHF and UHF antennas. Plans
call for amateur TV, both slow scan and fast scan ATV, a digipeater and
relay stations.

Planning for the deployment and use of the ham system aboard ISS has
been an international effort coordinated by NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center. The effort began in 1996 with the formation of the
Amateur Radio International Space Station organization. ARISS is made
up of delegates from major national amateur radio organizations,
including AMSAT.

More information about the project can be found on the ARISS web site
at http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov

[ANS thanks the ARISS team for this information]

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 146.00 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 		29.458 MHz
Robot Uplink 		145.840 MHz
Robot Downlink 	29.504 MHz
Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher
Status: Operational, in mode-KA with a 10-meter downlink and a
15-meter and 2-meter uplink

More information about RS-12 and RS-13 can be found on the
AC5DK RS-12/13 Satellite Operators page at:

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)
Launched: December 26, 1994 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Status: Semi-operational, mode-A, using a 2-meter uplink and a
10-meter downlink

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)
Launched: June 16, 1983 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: 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.

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
Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Operational, mode J

Periodically, AO-27's analog repeater will be turned off for a few days
at a time to enable ground controllers to gather Whole Orbital Data
(WOD), to verify the health of the satellite.

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 current TEPR settings are:

TEPR 4:   36		TEPR 5:   72

The AO-27 pages on the AMSAT-NA web site include an
explanation of TEPR AO-27 operations (at):

http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/ao27.html

[ANS thanks AMRAD for AO-27 information]

UO-14
Uplink 		145.975 MHz FM
Downlink 	435.070 MHz FM
Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Operational, mode J

DX heard recently on UO-14 includes K4QFF/TI8, 9Y4AT, FM1DQ,
G1Ocn and G6LVB.

Tim, KG8OC, has updated the Michigan AMSAT Information site
to include 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
Mode J Uplink:	       	145.825 MHz FM
Mode J Downlink:	436.250 MHz FM

Mode B Uplink:		436.291 MHz FM
Mode B Downlink:	145.825 MHz FM
Launched: February 23, 1999 by a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg
Air Force Base in California
Status: Operational.

Bruce, KK5DO, reports that SO-35 turned off prematurely recently.
"I heard a partial call, got my call in and then the satellite turned off.
It
seems to be on as it comes over the pole and Canada and then is
turning off over the U.S.," stated KK5DO.

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 in addition
to Mode B/J operation. The satellite has two VHF and two UHF
transmit-receive systems.

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 		145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 	435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB
Launched: February 07, 1990 by an H1 launcher from the
Tanegashima Space Center in Japan
Status: Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously

Several satellite operators have reported problems with FO-20's
transponder. Mike, N1JEZ, told ANS that he believes the loss of signal
is a combination of two factors. First, battery age and an increase in FM
traffic due to operators unaware of the band plan. Mike reports he
routinely hears FM signals on the transponder.

Tak, JA2PKI, reported the FO-20 control station operators now believe
that the UVC (Under Voltage Controller) now is regulating the
transponder. The UVC monitors battery voltage and tries to protect the
batteries from over discharge. Tak notes that FO-20, launched in 1990,
is now over 10 years old.

[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status reports]

JAS-2 FO-29
Launched: August 17, 1996, by an H-2 launcher from the
Tanegashima Space Center in Japan
Status: Operational

Voice/CW Mode JA
Uplink 		145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 	435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB

Digital Mode JD
Uplink 		145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM
Downlink 	435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK
Digitalker 	435.910 MHz

The JARL FO-29 command station has announced the following
operation schedule of FO-29:

Oct. 7- Nov. 5   	-  Digi-talker (except mode JA every Wednesday)

Mike, KF4FDJ, has put together a very informative document on FO-29,
addressing the analog, digital and digi-talker modes. To obtain a copy
e-mail Mike at: kf4fdj@amsat.org.

Mineo, JE9PEL, has a FO-29 satellite telemetry analysis program that
will automatically analyze all digital telemetry from the satellite (such as
current, voltage and temperature). The JE9PEL FO-29/shareware is
available at the following URL:

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/

[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-29 status reports]

SAUDISAT-1A
Uplink		to be released
Downlink	437.075 MHz 
Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic
missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Status: Commissioning stage, initial housekeeping tasks underway

SaudiSat-1A will operate as 9600 baud digital store-and-forward
systems as well analog FM repeater mode capability. One of two
new ham satellites from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia built by the
Space Research Institute at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and
Technology.

SAUDISAT-1B
Uplink		to be released
Downlink	436.775 MHz
Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic
missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Status: Commissioning stage, initial housekeeping tasks underway

SaudiSat-1B will operate as 9600 baud digital store-and-forward
systems as well analog FM repeater mode capability. One of two
new ham satellites from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia built by the
Space Research Institute at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and
Technology.

TIUNGSAT-1
Uplink		to be released
Downlink	437.325 MHz
Broadcast callsign:	MYSAT3-11
BBS:			MYSAT3-12
NUP:			MYSAT3-10
Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic
missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Status: Commissioning stage, initial housekeeping tasks underway

TiungSat-1 is Malaysia's first micro-satellite and in addition to
commercial land and weather imaging payloads will offer FM and FSK
Amateur Radio communication.

TiungSat-1, named after the mynah bird of Malaysia, was developed as
a collaborative effort between the Malaysian government and Surrey
Satellite Technology Ltd. 

For more information on TiungSat-1, visit the following URL:

http://www.yellowpages.com.my/tiungsat/tiung_main.htm

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-289.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 289.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 15, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-289.07

KITSAT KO-25
Uplink 		145.980 MHz FM (9600 baud FSK)
Downlink 	436.500 MHz FM
Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Operational

Jim, AA7KC, reports nominal KO-25 operation with low traffic and with
a downlink efficiency in the 50% range.

[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
Launched: July 17, 1991 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Operational

Jim, AA7KC, reports nominal UO-22 operation with heavy satellite gateway
traffic. Much of the traffic contains the latest information about the space
shuttle activity.

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
Launched: March 1, 1984 by a Delta-Thor rocket from Vandenberg
Air Force Base in California
Status: Operational

OSCAR-11 celebrated its sixteenth birthday in space on March 1, 2000.

During the period 15-August to 16-September 2000 good signals have
been received from the 145 MHz beacon. The battery voltage observed
during daylight passes has continued to increase. The internal
temperatures have increased by 2.6C during the month. This rise in
temperature is expected to continue until the end of the year as the
solar eclipse times become shorter.

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)
Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Semi-operational. The CW beacon is sending eight telemetry
channels and one status channel. No BBS service is available. The
digipeater is not 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/

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 			145.90 145.92 145.94 145.96 MHz FM
				(using 1200 baud Manchester FSK)
Downlink		437.025 MHz SSB (RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK)
Mode-S Beacon   	2401.1428 MHz
Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Semi-operational

Russ, WJ9F, reported the S-band transmitter is off. The VHF uplink and the
UHF PSK transmitter are operational (TX power at 1.5 watts). The
digipeater command is on. 

A WOD collection of satellite graphics (dated 02/26/2000) can be
found at:

http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu

[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)
Launched: July 10, 1998 by a Zenit rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Status: Operational

Jim, AA7KC, reports nominal TO-31 operation with moderate traffic. Much
of the traffic contains image files.

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
Launched: April 21, 1999 by a Russian launcher from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome
Status: Operational

Viktor, OE1VKW, reports UO-36 "is alive and well" during a recent pass
over Europe. 

UO-36 carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward
communications and mode L/S transponders.

NASA has demonstrated on UO-36 the ability to use standard Internet
protocols to communicate with an orbiting spacecraft (just like any node
on the Internet). NASA has been developing this project by working with
the commercial payload aboard UoSAT-12.

The BBS is open, although uploading and downloading may be
disabled at times.

The VK5HI viewer shareware for UO-36 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
Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Semi-operational, the digipeater function is on and open for
APRS users

[ANS thanks ITAMSAT Project Manager Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD, for
IO-26 information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-289.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 289.08 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 15, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-289.08

THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL
AT THIS TIME:

KITSAT KO-23
Uplink 		145.900 MHz FM (9600 baud FSK)
Downlink 	435.170 MHz FM
Launched: August 10, 1992 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Non-operational

Jim, AA7KC, reports that KO-23's downlink transmitter has been 
operational during October, but has since returned to the
transmitter off state. The downlink transmitter is operating at
unpredictable intervals.

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. HL0ENJ also reports that KO-23 is currently in a full
sunlight
period that should last through the end of October. The control team will
attempt to operate the satellite during this period along with an attempt
to control the attitude system. "We are not sure when the bird might be
turned off again due to insufficient power. The capability of the onboard
power system has been less and less," said Kim.

[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
Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher
Status: Non-operational. No operation in 2000 has been observed

TECHSAT-1B GO-32
Downlink 	435.225 MHz using HDLC telemetry
Launched: July 10, 1998 by a Russian Zenit rocket from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome
Status: Semi-operational

Efforts were reported to be underway to bring GO-32 on line,
however, no information has been received by ANS (the last
report was dated November 1999).

Last reported, the satellite does transmit a 9600-baud burst every
30 seconds (the GO-32 beacon sends one short telemetry status
transmission of 44 bytes) and upon request the complete
telemetry buffer. The program to the access the satellite can be
downloaded from the homepage.

The TechSat team has a home page about TechSat. To view the site,
point your web browser to:

http://www.technion.ac.il/pub/projects/techsat/asher/techsatmain.html 

PANSAT PO-34
Uplink/downlink frequencies have never been released
Launched: October 30, 1998 by the Shuttle Discovery
Status: Unknown

The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions.

PanSat was developed by the Naval Postgraduate School. At the time of
launch, PanSat spread-spectrum digital transponders were promised to
be available to Amateur Radio operators along with software to utilize
this technology. To date, this has not happened.

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 (the story written by KD6DRA and N7HPR).

MIR SPACE STATION
145.985 MHz (FM) voice and SSTV (Robot 36 Mode)
Launched: February 18, 1986
Status: Unmanned

Currently, there is no human habitation aboard the station and the
onboard Amateur Radio equipment has been turned off. Several
news agencies have reported that Mir in now on 'autopilot'.

Stay tuned to ANS for further details.

MIR SAFEX II 70-cm Repeater
Uplink 		435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone of 141.3 Hz
Downlink 	437.950 MHz FM
Status: 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
Status: Not operational. No operation in 1999 or 2000 has been observed

DOVE DO-17
Downlink 	145.825 MHz FM (1200 baud AFSK)
		2401.220 MHz
Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: 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)
Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Non-operational

WO-18 was last 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)
Launched: October 24, 1998 by a Delta 2 rocket from Cape
Canaveral, Florida
Status: Semi-operational

The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions and
the image and transponder recovery efforts have been unsuccessful.

SedSat-1 signifies Students for the Exploration and Development of
Space (satellite number one).

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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