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[jamsat-news:1368] AO-40 SPECIAL BULLETIN


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-325.01
AO-40 SPECIAL BULLETIN

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 325.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 20, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-325.01

Although safely in orbit, there is much work to be done with Phase 3D
before the satellite is opened for general Amateur Radio use. Initial
housekeeping tasks are now underway to verify the health of the many
complex systems onboard - followed by bringing these systems online.

As previously noted P3D is now in a transfer orbit used for
geosynchronous satellites. To move P3D from this orbit the Arcjet motor
will burn intermittently (at perigee) over a 270-day period, with final
inclination and apogee adjustments made by the spacecraft's 400
Newton motor. "When these maneuvers are completed and three-axis
stabilization is achieved, the satellite solar panels will then be spread
out
to receive full sunlight," said Haighton. "It is anticipated that at this
time
the satellite will be fully operational for use by Amateur Radio operators
around the world."

ANS has received many inquiries from satellite operators around the
world asking if P3D will be available for general communications in the
near future. Although this is certainly a possibility, it is important to
note that the P3D team is very closely monitoring the power budget
of this new satellite, both in available battery voltage and current orbital
parameters. These two areas will be among the most important factors
that determine what happens with P3D in the near future.

The P3D command team has reported to ANS that after the initial
establishment of communication following launch, a number of
systems have been checked out and found to be working perfectly.
The attitude control system was calibrated after finding a minor error in
the magnet vector. By changing 6 bytes in P3D's software, the proper
vector has been achieved. Presently, Phase 3D's attitude is being
changed to prepare for the first motor burn. This maneuver is currently
proceeding according to expectations and should be completed in a
few days.

Both S-band transmitters have been tested (S-1 and S-2), and both
have been found to work properly. With P3D's dish-antennas (for now)
pointing away from Earth, signals were weak as expected.

The V-band beacon is currently transmitting PSK telemetry on
145.898 MHz. "P3D is loud," reported ANS principal satellite investigator
N1JEZ, "even at apogee signals at my QTH are S-9 or better with no
detectable QSB." Along with telemetry, P3D is currently transmitting
the following messages:

'This is AMSAT OSCAR-40, the international satellite to support
science and education, Amateur Radio space communications and
above all, international friendship.'

'QST, QST de AMSAT OSCAR-40 in memory of Werner Haas, DJ5KQ,
vice president AMSAT-DL, 13-06-00.'

Stay tuned to ANS for additional bulletins from AMSAT, the
official source for information on AMSAT OSCAR-40.

[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL for this information]

/EX


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