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[jamsat-news:1411] ANS 366
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 366
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.
ANS is first released via the AMSAT-NA 20-meter net held each Sunday
on 14.282 MHz. Pre-net operations start at 18:00 UTC, with current ANS
bulletins transmitted to the eastern U.S. at 19:00 UTC and to the western
U.S. at 19:30 UTC. ANS is also released worldwide via the AMSAT ANS
e-mail reflector.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=
Happy New Year wishes from ANS!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=
AMSAT-NA is pleased to announce that recent and future development
in Amateur Radio satellites will take place in Atlanta, Georgia at the
19th Space Symposium and AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting, October 5-6,
2001. The 2001 Symposium Chairman is Steve Diggs, W4EPI. Contact
W4EPI at: w4epi@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 Colin Richards,
9M2CR, who died recently at age 85. Colin was a great supporter of
AMSAT. 9M2CR had many friends in the satellite community and
will be missed. [ANS thanks Sangat, 9M2SS, for this information]
ANS is always 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-366.02
PHASE 3D/AO-40 UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 366.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 31, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-366.02
The news received on Christmas day was what everyone wanted to
hear -- AO-40 is transmitting again! Prior to this confirmation, the
satellite had not transmitted any signals since December 13, 2000,
which was shortly after the first burn of the 400-N motor.
On December 25, 2000 at 21:45 UTC command station ZL1AOX
transmitted a L-band reset command which included an initialization
block to switch 'on' one of the two S-band transmitters onboard AO-40.
Just after the first attempt, AO-40's S-2 beacon was received by Ian,
ZL1AOX. The S-band signal strength was S-5 to S-6, which compared
to S-2 when the beacon was last heard last during testing in early
December. AO-40's S-band transmitter produced a steady signal at
ZL1AOX and from the doppler wobbling it was also clear that it was
in fact coming from AO-40.
AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, received the news
with much relief:
"The excellent news of contact with AO-40 through the L-band uplink
and S-band downlink has been received with joy and relief by AMSAT
members around the world. AMSAT-DL issued a bulletin giving the news
that everyone had hoped for on Christmas day, a fantastic gift to the
Amateur Radio community."
VE3FRH also added the following comments:
"The command team has not stopped their investigation during the
holidays. The AO-40 the team have now started to receive good
telemetry data from the bird via the 2400 MHz S-band transmitter.
However, copy is only available during the earliest part of each pass
(typically MA 14-39) due to the offset of the antenna with respect to
Earth. This restricts the amount communication that can take place
during each pass. The data that has been recovered is being analyzed
very carefully to try and determine a number of things," (such as):
* what actually happened and why did it happen?
* what telemetry functions are known to be correct and what telemetry
data is suspect (and) why?
* what is the actual attitude of the spacecraft with respect to Earth and
has the attitude changed?
* what is the spin velocity and has it changed?
* what is the current state of the batteries and are the battery chargers
and regulators working?
* what happened to IHU-1 and IHU 2 and why?
* are all the antennas operational and what can be done next to improve
communications?
* what risks are involved?
"When questions such as these (and others) are answered, it may be
possible to determine the working capability of the spacecraft, and, if
appropriate, to start to try operation on other bands. Much analysis work
remains to be completed and I know that the command team will try to
keep us all informed as and when they can answer the questions. Over
the next week or two some critical decisions will be made, these decisions
will be based on the results of the analysis and much discussion among
the command team. Meanwhile, lets hope that the first week or two of
the New Year will bring the same joy and relief to us all as the initial
news of December 25th."
ANS earlier reported that on December 26th, ZL1AOX succeeded in
loading IPS flight software and a minimal operational package into AO-40
and the satellite began sending telemetry (A blocks) that enabled initial
analysis of the status of the spacecraft.
AMSAT-DL President Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, reviewed the received
telemetry:
"A first (quick) look has revealed that some temperature sensors and
possibly some current sensors have been lost by whatever incident
caused the telemetry transmissions to stop. However, the power
situation, in particular the battery voltages, look nominal.
We will now start a detailed analysis of the situation; the command
stations will continue to follow a conservative philosophy with the
primary target of not causing any additional damage along with
retaining as much evidence as possible for the analysis of the
incident."
DJ4ZC reported to ANS that recovery efforts of AO-40 will continue,
mainly centered around housekeeping tasks designed to improve and
stabilize the systems onboard the satellite. Several new software
routines were successfully loaded that restored all Battery Charge
Regulator functions and have resulted in a positive power budget.
AO-40 has new flight software (with the exception of D-block
programming and WOD routines which will be done later).
Command station G3RUH (James Miller) reported that commanding
AO-40 on L-band frequencies was fairly easy, thus it appears the
L-band receiver seems to be work nominally.
Recent telemetry instrumentation shows Helium pressure at
essentially where it was following the first 400-N motor burn. Also, it
appears that a few temperature and current sensors either failed
and/or are showing incorrect values. The onboard sun sensors appear
to be fine and are showing a solar angle that is near predictions.
Received spin rate telemetry is not accurate when compared to the
actual spin as measured by the doppler wobbling of the S-band beacon.
A substantial spin increase is noted and the P3D team is working to
analyze and understand what has happened here.
As Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, reported to ANS; "the good news is that
the spacecraft is now fully under control. During the next several
days additional software will be loaded and the various uplinks will be
verified."
AMSAT-DL's Frank Sperber, DL6DBN/AA9KJ, placed the following
statement on the AMSAT-DL web site:
We wish you a happy new year which hopefully will bring back
AO-40 to a substantial life. Thank you for your kind wishes and
support. Both are very welcomed in these nervous times of AO-40's
recovery. We'll try to keep you informed about the progress as best
we can beside work and family.
Stay tuned to ANS, the official source of information on AMSAT
OSCAR 40.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-NA for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-366.03
NEW OSCAR NUMBERS ANNOUNCED
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 366.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 31, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-366.03
ANS has received a copy of a letter sent to Dr. Turki Al Saud, the director
of space research at the King Abdullaziz City for Science and Technology,
the sponsoring agency of two of Amateur Radio's newest satellites,
SaudiSat 1A and 1B.
The letter is written by AMSAT-NA (past) President Bill Tynan, W3XO:
In accordance with the request by AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton,
VE3FRH, that I be charged with the issuance of OSCAR numbers to
qualifying Amateur Radio satellites (and) in response to a request for
OSCAR numbers for SaudiSat 1A and 1B, which correspond to the
provisions set forth in the following IARU document:
'Information For Perspective Operators of Satellites Utilizing Frequencies
Allocated to the Amateur satellite Service',
I do hereby designate SaudiSat 1A as Saudi OSCAR 41/SO-41 and
SaudiSat 1B as Saudi OSCAR 42/SO-42.
Congratulations to all who worked on this project on the launch of these
spacecraft. I am sure that the world's Amateur Radio community will
very much appreciate having SO-41 and SO-42 available for use.
Sincerely,
William A. Tynan, W3XO
SaudiSat 1A and 1B were launched September 26, 2000 aboard a
converted Soviet ballistic missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Currently, both satellites are in their commissioning stage, with initial
housekeeping tasks underway. Each satellite will operate as a 9600
baud digital store-and-forward system as well as an analog FM
(bent-pipe) repeater.
Congratulations from ANS!
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA's Bill Tynan, W3XO for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-366.04
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 366.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 31, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-366.04
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** The ARISS group reports the ISS contact with the Armstrong
Fundamental School in Hampton, Virginia is currently scheduled
for Friday, January 5th, starting at 20:34 UTC. Check the web
for latest developments and changes (http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/).
The downlink will be on 145.800 MHz and should be easily readable
along the eastern coastline of North America. Real-time coverage
of the audio is expected via the Internet. -Will, KC6ROL
** AMSAT-NA's Martha Saragovitz reports that Walt Rader,
WA3DMF, recently suffered a stroke and has some difficulty with
speech. The good news is that Walt is undergoing therapy. Walt is
AMSAT-NA QSL Manager is member number 1948. Get-well
cards can be sent to 3702 Allison Street, Brentwood, MD 20722. -ANS
** MSNBC's web site has a nice story about the International Space
Station and Amateur Radio, point your browser to:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/505064.asp. -ARISS
** Scientists at the University of North Carolina and North Carolina
State University have found that by rotating a carbon nanotube,
they can control its ability to conduct electrical current to another
material, just as you can control the flow of electricity to lights by
turning a dimmer switch. The discovery should lead to more
advanced electronics. -SpaceDaily
** AMSAT-NA's Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS Chairman, tells ANS
that the ARISS and SAREX web sites received over 70,000 combined
'hits' recently. ANS feels this is very good news for Amateur Radio!
-NN0DJ
** The ARRL is asking the FCC to review an FCC Order that declined
to include covenants, conditions and restrictions under the limited
federal preemption of PRB-1. CCR's often impede or prohibit the
installation of outside antennas. -ARRL Letter
** Iridium Satellite LLC announced that it has completed the acquisition
of the operating assets of Iridium and its subsidiaries. Iridium Satellite
LLC now owns all of the former assets of Iridium, including the satellite
constellation, the terrestrial network, Iridium real property and property
formally owned by Iridium. -SpaceDaily
** The Foundation For Amateur Radio Inc, a non-profit organization with
headquarters in Washington, DC, plans to administer 67 scholarships for
the 2001-2002 academic year. Amateur Radio operators holding a valid
license may compete for these awards if they plan to pursue a full-time
course of studies beyond high school and are enrolled in or have been
accepted for enrollment at an accredited university, college or technical
school. Information/application forms are available from FAR at:
PO Box 831, Riverdale, MD 20738. -ARRL Letter
** The Central States VHF Society 35th technical conference will be
held in Fort Worth, Texas, July 26-29, 2001. Development plans are
currently underway for the technical program speaker list. More
information is available from wa5vjb@csvhfs.org. -CSVHF Society
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-366.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 366.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 31, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-366.05
Phase 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 / AO-40
Launched: November 16, 2000 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher
from Kourou, French Guiana. A 50-second video of the launch
can be seen at: http://arianespace.com/interior/v135better.mov
Status: S-Band transmitter is active, recovery efforts continue
Paul, VP9MU, reports the S-2 published beacon frequency of
2401.350 MHz may be misleading as the actual frequency has not
been calibrated. VP9MU reports that from various reception reports it
would appear that using 2401.318 MHz may be a good starting point.
ANS reminds stations that at S-band frequencies doppler will be
dynamic.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL for this information]
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/ARISS
Worldwide packet uplink: 145.990 MHz
Region 1 voice uplink: 145.200 MHz
Region 2/3 voice uplink: 144.490 MHz
Worldwide downlink: 145.800 MHz
TNC callsign RZ3DZR
ARISS initial station launched September 2000 aboard shuttle Atlantis
Status: Operational (although current ISS workload is limiting operation)
The ISS contact with the Armstrong Fundamental School in Hampton,
Virginia is currently scheduled for Friday, January 5th, starting at
20:34 UTC. Check the web for latest developments and changes.
ARISS is made up of delegates from major national Amateur Radio
organizations, including AMSAT.
U.S. callsign: NA1SS (NN1SS will be used for ground-based
transmissions from the Goddard Space Flight Center)
Russian callsign: RZ3DZR
German call sign: DL0ISS
RZ3DZR-1 is the callsign entered into the TNC currently onboard Alpha.
More information about the project can be found on the ARISS web site
at http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov.
[ANS thanks ARISS team member Will Marchant, KC6ROL, for this
information]
RADIO SPORT RS-13
Uplink 21.260 to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 145.860 to 145.900 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 145.860 MHz
Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher
Status: Operational, mode T
Kevin, AC5DK, reported to ANS that "questions continue to come into
the RS-12/13 forum. Most problems still stem from incorrect Mode T
downlink frequencies. What further compounds the problem is that
the RS-12 upper beacon is being confused with the RS-13 lower
beacon, but in actuality it is 100 kHz lower."
AC5DK adds "I would also like to remind everyone to always doppler
adjust the higher frequency when using RS-13; in this case it's the
2-meter receive frequency. I suggest never adjusting the 15-meter
uplink as you may QSY into an ongoing terrestrial QSO and become
unwelcome QRM... and always listen on your uplink frequency
before transmitting."
The latest information on 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
[ANS thanks Kevin Manzer, AC5DK, for this information]
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
[ANS thanks Dave Guimont, WB6LLO, for this information]
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. Dirk, ON1DLL,
reports "AO-10 seems to be in excellent shape." He recently worked
TA1D, FR1GZ, EA6QD and TK1CX. W7FAF recently worked DS0NO
in Korea.
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 (as of
November 25, 2000) are:
TEPR 4 18 TEPR 5 36
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
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.
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, including the official operating
schedule, 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
Tak, JA2PKI, reported the FO-20 control station operators 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 1200 baud BPSK or 9600 baud FSK
Callsign 8J1JCS
Digitalker 435.910 MHz
The JARL FO-29 command station has announced the following
operation schedule of FO-29:
Dec. 25 - Jan. 7 mode JA
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]
SO-41 SAUDISAT-1A
Uplink to be released
Downlink 437.075 MHz
Broadcast Callsign SASAT1-11
BBS SASAT1-12
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.
SO-42 SAUDISAT-1B
Uplink to be released
Downlink 436.775 MHz
Broadcast Callsign SASAT2-11
BBS SASAT2-12
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.
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-366.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 366.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 31, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-366.06
TIUNGSAT-1
Uplink 145.850 or 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 437.325 MHz
Broadcast callsign MYSAT3-11
BBS MYSAT3-12
Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic
missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Status: Operational, 38k4 baud FSK
Chris, G7UPN, tells ANS that recently, TiungSat-1 has been operating
at a data rate of 38k4. Data recovery at 38k4 is reported to be extremely
good with efficiencies near 100%. The output power is at 8-watts "which
should provide a very good downlink," said Chris, adding "the downside
is that with the high power transmitter operating, the power budget is
negative so we can't support continuous operation."
According to G7UPN, TiungSat-1 now requires the Amateur Radio station
to switch the downlink 'on' when the satellite comes into range. The way
this works is for the ground station software to send a request to the
spacecraft to switch the downlink on. The spacecraft receives this request
and checks the battery voltage to see if it can support the operation, and
if
it can it will activate the downlink.
TiungSat-1 is Malaysia's first micro-satellite and in addition to
commercial land and weather imaging payloads offers 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
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for this information]
KITSAT KO-25
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM (9600 baud FSK)
Downlink 436.500 MHz FM
Broadcast Callsign HL02-11
BBS HL02-12
Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Operational
Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-25 operational with light traffic.
[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
Broadcast Callsign UOSAT5-11
BBS UOSAT5-12
Launched: July 17, 1991 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Operational
Jim, AA7KC, reports UO-22 operational with heavy individual and
Satgate traffic.
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.
The G3CWV OSCAR-11 report for December shows "once again it's
been an uneventful month for OSCAR-11. Good signals have been
received from the 145 MHz beacon and the satellite is experiencing
good solar conditions that should continue until the end of the year."
The battery voltage observed during daylight passes is unchanged with
the average value observed at 14.0, with a range of 13.9 to 14.1 volts.
Internal temperatures have now started to decrease slightly as the
eclipse periods start to lengthen. The spin period has varied between
218 and 299 seconds. Seven positive magnetorquer correction pulses
and zero negative pulses have been counted and there have been 281
Z-axis correction pulses.
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)
Broadcast Callsign LUSAT-11
BBS LUSAT-12
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 on 437.136 MHz. No BBS service is
available. The digipeater is not active.
Telemetry (limited) is as follows:
Sat Dec 30 at 23:25 2000 UTC
LUSAT HIHI 60 AVT ABV AA6 ADB ATB AB4 TTU AEE
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:
www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu
[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
Broadcast Callsign: PACSAT-11
BBS PACSAT-12
Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Semi-operational, the digipeater command is on
Russ, WJ9F, reported he has been doing some WOD (Whole Orbit
Data) collections recently and has had the S-band transmitter on during
some passes. Russ has a software update planned that may allow
(hopefully) continuous S-band operation.
Telemetry is as follows:
uptime is 321/19:21:26 Time is Sat Dec 30 22:56:34 2000
+10V Bus 10.450 V PSK TX RF Out 1.631 W
+X (RX) Temp 1.814 D RX Temp 15.731 D
Bat 1 V 1.252 V Bat 2 V 1.257 V
Bat 3 V 1.270 V Bat 4 V 1.241 V
Bat 5 V 1.263 V Bat 6 V 1.292 V
Bat 7 V 1.262 V Bat 8 V 1.272 V
BCR Load Cur 0.413 A BCR Input Cur 0.186 A
BCR Output Cur 0.015 A Bat 1 Temp 9.075 D
Bat 2 Temp 9.075 D Baseplt Temp 8.470 D
RC PSK BP Temp 1.209 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 1.814 D
+Y Array Temp -13.919 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 5.444 D
+Z Array Temp -1.817 D
Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.398 Ifb= 0.186 I+10V= 0.227
TX:1009 BCR:1E PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:5B
Beacon text: AO-16 S-Band Tx testing to begin shortly
Pacsat owned and operated by AMSAT-NA
AO-16 Command Team <WJ9F>
A new WOD collection of current graphics along with general
information and telemetry samples can be found at:
www.telecable.es/personales/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)
Broadcast Callsign: TMSAT1-11
BBS TMSAT1-12
Launched: July 10, 1998 by a Zenit rocket from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome
Status: Not operational, no data downlinked since December 18, 2000
Chris G7UPN, (UoSAT operations manager) reports the following to
ANS:
Over the next few days - or possibly couple of weeks - the TO-31
downlink will be off over most areas, with the exception of Europe
and Thailand. This is required to allow control stations to recondition
the battery with minimum power drain. I am trying to get this moving
as quickly as possible however with the holiday season it may take
slightly longer than normal.
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
Broadcast Callsign UO121-11
BBS UO121-12
Launched: April 21, 1999 by a Russian launcher from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome
Status: Operational
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
Broadcast Callsign ITMSAT-11
BBS ITMSAT-12
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-366.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 366.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 31, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-366.07
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
Broadcast Callsign HLO1-11
BBS HLO1-12
Launched: August 10, 1992 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou,
French Guiana
Status: Intermittent operation with the downlink transmitter operating at
unpredictable intervals
Jim, AA7KC, reports that KO-23's downlink transmitter continues
in non-operational status. Jim says that KO-23 shows some signs
of trying to recover, but no useful data has been downlinked. The
duration of this status is unpredictable. No data has been received
since October 28, 2000.
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. "We are not sure when the bird might turn off again due to
insufficient power. The capability of the onboard power system has been
less and less," said Kim. HL0ENJ also noted that as of October 30, 2000
the onboard computer was reset and a reboot of operational software is
now underway.
[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: unconfirmed
ANS has received reports from several stations that the
29.408 MHz RS-12 beacon has been heard. The beacon telemetry
indicated that both the 10 and 2-meter receivers aboard RS-12 are
currently off.
Jerry, K5OE, reports both the 2 and 10-meter beacons have been
heard at his QTH, (although the 10-meter beacon has been
intermittent).
[ANS thanks K5OE and AC5DK for this information]
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.
[ANS has no further information]
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).
[ANS has no further information]
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'.
Several news agencies are reporting the Mir space station will be ditched
this coming February in a controlled descent that will send it hurtling into
a remote area of the Pacific Ocean.
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
[ANS has no further information]
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.
[ANS has no further information]
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.
[ANS has no further information]
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://seds.uah.edu/projects/sedsat/sedsat.htm
[ANS has no further information]
/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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