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[jamsat-news:1416] ANS 007
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 007
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.
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 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 Amateur Radio author
Joe Carr, K4IPV, of Annandale, Virginia, who died recently at home in
his sleep. He was 57. K4IPV contributed hundreds of articles over the
years to various publications, including QST, Popular Electronics, 73,
Nuts and Volts and others. [ANS thanks the ARRL 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-007.01
PHASE 3D/AO-40 UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 007.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 07, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-007.01
AMSAT-DL Vice President Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, provided ANS
with the latest information about AMSAT OSCAR 40:
Dear All,
I know that many people are looking for more information and I can
understand this, but please keep in mind that the recovery efforts are
not easy and take a lot of time. Everyone involved in the recovery is
indeed very busy and we all have our full time jobs and our families
to consider in addition to the recovery efforts.
Due to the currently limited downlink capabilities, uploading of new
commands and analyzing the results takes some time. So far, it has
been determined that the L-band uplink receiver (on a high-gain
antenna) is OK. Also, the VHF and UHF uplink receivers are OK
and they seem to be working nominally. Since we know that the
high-gain antennas are working, the V-band transmitter was
switched 'on' for 1 MA count recently during a perigee pass over
Australia (by command-station Graham Ratcliff, VK5AGR). Telemetry
indicated a temperature rise but Graham could not detect any AO-40
telemetry signal on 2-meters. Unfortunately, the telemetry Gram was
receiving on S-band at the time of this test was not error free and
therefore some telemetry might be missing. The V-TX clearly needs
to be tested again in the next few orbits.
Magnetorquing did commence and the results will be analyzed.
Because of this action some additional FM wobbling may be noted on
the S-band downlink when the magnetorquers are in action. If successful,
the Magnetorquing attitude control system will allow us to spin 'down' the
spacecraft and adjust the attitude for a better sun and squint angle.
Following this, it will take some time to evaluate the status of the various
other systems and experiments, including the Arcjet and momentum
wheels.
However, there is a sign of a small leak, which we believe is also the
reason for the higher spin rate we are seeing. The internal pressures of
the propellant tanks are measured by discrete pressure transducers which
are part of the PFA module. While the transducers could be damaged, it
seems to be very unlikely. So for now the reason for the leak and the
possible effects are under investigation and results will be reported when
a final conclusion is made.
At the moment we clearly have priorities and the most important one
is to bring AO-40 back into 'normal' mode as soon as possible. Depending
on the outcome of these tests we can devise a new schedule that best
exploits our currently known communications capability.
73, Peter, DB2OS
Following Peter's report, AMSAT-DL President Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC,
provided the following:
Greetings,
Since my report from late December, command stations have
implemented the strategy which I had outlined. The first priority was
to determine which command-uplink channels were available. This work
was difficult, very time consuming (and for the satellite) somewhat
dangerous due to the unknowns. The command stations did a
magnificent job! Due to their combined efforts I can report the
following findings:
1. After some blind transmissions to test the omni-antennas around
apogee (that failed to produce a response), the scheduler was activated
and programmed in such a way as to prevent lock-out. This strategy turned
out to be very prudent and the scheduler-operation went smoothly and
resulted in no additional anomalies.
2. The scheduler then took AO-40 through a number of modes, which
allowed the P3D team to determine the following:
a. V, U and L-1 receivers work
b. V, U and L high-gain antennas work
c. U and L low-gain antennas do not work
d. the status of the V-band low-gain antenna has not
been finally
determined. Apogee blinds tests are in progress as I
write this
to accurately determine the status of this antenna
3. As Peter noted the V-band transmitter was operated for one MA-unit. It
demonstrated a marked temperature increase, but no signal was heard.
This was a quick-look test and this result should not be considered final.
Further tests will be necessary (including the need to determine if the
matrix was set properly). These tests will have to wait until the spin rate
is
reduced to ensure that the satellites heat-pipes will be able to handle the
dissipation for extended periods.
4. Magnetorquing was started to reduce spin and the first indications are a
loss of around 0.5 rpm - roughly consistent with theoretical predictions. We
can conclude that the system works. In order to use Earth-sensing data, a
small additional program needs to be installed which stores data at apogee
for later recovery when telemetry reception becomes available.
What's next?
During the next days the attitude control system should be returned to full
functionality. It will be used to reduce the spin to a value consistent with
heat-pipe operation and also with the requirements to change attitude.
These changes are necessary for sun-angle constraints, communication
access and also to reduce the effect of our ongoing mass-loss on perigee
altitude. Newer model calculations show that the mass loss could be larger
than my previous estimates; thus it would be prudent to use the resulting
thrust to increase perigee altitude (right now it is decreasing it).
Once the spin/attitude situation is under control, we will continue the
check-out of other systems (such as):
1. Determine the status of the V-band transmitter (controlled experiments)
2. Determine the status of the U-band transmitter
3. Determine the serviceability of the ATOS (Arcjet) to determine if it can
be
planned on for a strategy toward an improved orbit
4. Test the momentum wheels to determine if AO-40 can be put into a
three-axis mode which would greatly reduce the impact of the loss of the
omni-antennas
Present data so far indicates that although we have lost some systems
in AO-40, there has been no further deterioration after the second incident.
In particular, if ATOS and three-axis stabilization are still serviceable,
AO-40
will still be able to produce a large fraction of the Amateur Radio service
expected from it.
Personally, I am optimistic and I believe that the command-and
engineering team stand a good chance of turning AO-40 into an
extremely useful Amateur Radio satellite.
73, Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC
AO-40 command-station operator Stacey Mills, W4SM, has done a
long-term calculation of AO-40's current orbit in the unlikely event that a
malfunction within AO-40's propulsion system means that no further orbital
maneuvers could take place. W4SM calculates the current orbit will be
stable for a very long period.
Both the W4SM orbit calculation and the measured AO-40 beacon
frequencies (during RF testing in Kourou) have been posted to the
AMSAT-DL web site. View the information at:
http://www.amsat-dl.org/journal/adlj-p3d.htm
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-007.02
LATEST ARISS SCHOOL CONTACT SUCCESSFUL
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 007.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 07, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-007.02
The ARRL is reporting that the second ARISS school contact with
Space Station Alpha was successful as students at the Armstrong
Fundamental Elementary School in Hampton, Virginia, recently
made contact with ISS. Students interviewed station commander
William Shepherd, KD5GSL, last Friday.
During the afternoon contact about 10 students posed questions to
Shepherd, who identified using the special NA1SS call sign. The
League reported that the students seemed fascinated with the effects
of launch and space flight. Being launched from Earth into space felt
like "someone standing on your chest," Shepherd told the students,
but after about eight minutes or so "you become weightless and can go
anywhere you want." Shepherd told the students that being weightless
was "a very nice experience." He also told the Armstrong students that
keeping food down in a zero-gravity environment was not a problem.
Students at Jan Sheldon Elementary School in Varysburg, New York,
are next in line and hope to complete their ARISS contact in
mid-January.
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 and the ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-007.03
AMSAT-NA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 007.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 07, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-007.03
AMSAT North America is looking for members, both new satellite
enthusiasts and former members who have re-activated their interests.
AMSAT NA, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, is part 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.
To help in attracting members, AMSAT member Mike Honer, W1BFN,
has challenged his fellow satellite enthusiasts. Mike will match (up to
$1,000) any amount earmarked for a new or lapsed membership
received during the month of January! These matching funds will be
used by AMSAT-NA to further advance both current and future projects.
Simply mark the membership application with 'MH' at the bottom of
the application.
Membership in AMSAT-NA also includes the AMSAT Journal. The
January/February issue will include the following featured articles:
* Phase 3D Loss and Regain of Control
* So You Want to Build a Satellite!, by WD4FAB
* ARISS SAREX Contact, by AJ9N
* Project Argus: An Amateur SETI Update, by N6TX
* Minutes of the AMSAT-NA Board of Director Meeting
Need more details on joining AMSAT-NA? Contact Martha, the AMSAT
Office Manager, at (301) 589-6062, or by e-mail at:
martha@amsat.org.
Now is the time to show your support of AMSAT-NA!
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
[ANS thanks Mike Honer, W1BFN, for his generosity and
dedication to AMSAT]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-007.04
ANS IN BRIEF
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 007.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 07, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-007.04
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** Best fist nominations are due! AMSAT-NA Executive Vice President
Ray Soifer, W2RS, say thank you to all who participated in AMSAT-NA's
Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2001 and reminds stations to please take
the time to nominate one person you worked for 'best fist'. It isn't
necessary that he/she had the best fist of the entire event, only the best
of those worked. Nominations may be sent to W2RS via e-mail
(w2rs@amsat.org), packet radio (W2RS@WA2SNA.NJ.USA.NA), or by
regular mail to the W2RS Callbook address. Results will appear ANS
in early February and in the next available issue of The AMSAT Journal.
-Ray, W2RS
** AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, was a guest of
shortwave station WWCR's 'Spectrum' radio show recently. WWCR
broadcasts on 5.070 MHz. The program is focused on today's leading
edge technology. Robin talked about the history of AMSAT and AO-40,
in addition to other satellites. He also explained how to join AMSAT
and answered several listener questions during the broadcast! -ANS
** As we entered the new year RS-12 was apparently re-activated, this
time in mode A. Previously, ANS had only received reports that the
29 MHz beacon had been heard. The beacon telemetry had indicated
that both the 10 and 2-meter receivers aboard RS-12 were currently off.
RS-13 was operational (mode T), but was apparently turned off following
the recent RS-12 switch. RS-12/13 will soon celebrate 10 years in orbit!
More details can be found in the satellite report sections of this bulletin
set. -NN0DJ
** ANS congratulates Kevin Manzer, AC5DK, for receiving his AMSAT
Oscar Sexagesimal Award (60 states/provinces/DXCC) recently!
** Several research team report they have found compelling evidence
that Mars may have once supported primitive life. The researchers
discovered evidence of bacteria in a Martian meteorite. Tiny magnetite
crystals embedded in the meteorite were confirmed to be the type
produced only by a biological process. -SpaceDaily
** ESA announced recently it will proceed with development of small
rocket with technology. The decision was made when ESA member
countries voted to proceed with the full development of the 'Vega'
rocket and associated solid-fueled propulsion systems. Vega's launch
market aims at the smaller satellite market. -Jeff, N9AVG
** AB2CJ reports that a new Satellite version of WinPSK has been
released that features a modified AFC count to keep up with doppler.
The software also supports full duplex operation. More information
is available at: http://www.qsl.net/ae4jy/. -Tony, AB2CJ
** Berto, ON1CAU, has created an AMSAT/Oscar 40 electronic
discussion board. To view the site, surf to:
http://users.belgacom.net/on1cau/. -ON1CAU
** CQ magazine has introduced a special operating award for 2001.
The CQ Millennium Award recognizes anyone who meets the minimum
requirements for any of CQ's four permanent operating awards. Hams
and short-wave listeners may qualify for the CQ Millennium Award. Full
details will be published in the January 2001 issue of CQ, or check out
the CQ web address: http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com. -Rich, W2VU
** Ron, WA4SIR, reports that he is setting up an AO-40 telemetry
meta-server at the NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center Amateur Radio
Club. The purpose of the server is to flow AO-40 telemetry to a central
point. Ron will inform everyone how to send telemetry to and receive
telemetry from the server ASAP. -Ron, WA4SIR
** The ARRL and the IARU report that Germany has approved a change
in its Amateur Radio rules that lowers Morse code text speed required for
HF operation to 5 wpm. The order noting the change was issued in
December 2000. The required speed was 12 wpm. -ARRL Letter
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-007.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 007.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 07, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-007.05
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
So far, it has been determined that the L-band and U-band uplink
receivers (both on high-gain antennas) seem to be OK. Also, the
VHF and UHF uplink receivers are OK and they seem to be working
nominally. Magnetorquing is underway and the results will be analyzed.
[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 was successful.
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-12
Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 29.408 MHz
Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher
Status: Re-activated January 2001 in mode-A
RS-12 was apparently re-activated in mode A on January 1, 2001
(prior to this switch RS-13 was operational (mode T), but was
apparently turned off following the recent RS-12 switch).
Kevin, AC5DK, told ANS "when the command stations for RS-12/13
start changing modes, they often will change it several times over a
short period of time before settling on one mode for awhile."
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. John, K6YK,
reports very good recent activity including FO5QS, VK2APG,
ZL2TWS, DU1EV, 7M4DUI, XE1KK, JE2UAZ, HP2CWB, LU4HE,
PY3BZM, LU6KK, LU4EBC, PY2FUS, ZL2VBV, ZL2TAL, LW4DIR,
ZL2VAL, ZL2MN, 7K2PMJ, JN1GKZ, XE2AT, ZL2ALP and CU3AN.
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: Non-operational in the Amateur Radio service
The SunSat web page contains the following:
The orientation changes needed in order to resume imaging activities
have been hampered by ground station problems. Due to the additional
operational effort required, Amateur Radio services have been
suspended until further notice.
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.31 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-007.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 007.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 07, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-007.06
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 moderate 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: Non-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
Jim, AA7KC, reports that UO-22 is operational with heavy individual
and SatGate traffic.
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-007.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 007.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 07, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-007.07
THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL
AT THIS TIME:
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: non-operational (last operational in mode-T)
RS-12 was apparently re-activated recently. Prior to this switch RS-13
was operational (mode T), but was apparently turned off following
the recent RS-12 switch.
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]
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]
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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