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[jamsat-news:1421] ANS 014
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 014
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 the man who brought
the world wireless communications concepts and devices as the
walkie-talkie, pager and cordless telephone. Al Gross, W8PAL, of
Sun City, Arizona passed away recently at age 82. W8PAL obtained his
Amateur Radio license in 1934 at the age of 16. His early interest in
Amateur Radio helped set his career choice while he was still a young
man. His first invention was a portable hand-held radio transmitter and
receiver he developed in 1938 while still in high school. He christened
it the 'walkie-talkie'. [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-014.01
PHASE 3D/AO-40 UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 014.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 14, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.01
AO-40 Project Leader Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, has expressed confidence
that, despite its problems, the satellite will be functional in the future -
although its mission likely will be different from the one planned prior to
launch:
"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
This past week command stations continued working with the satellite
in the on-going recovery efforts. No new information is available as this
edition of ANS is broadcast, however, DJ4ZC will have a status
announcement in the very near future.
The AMSAT-DL web site is currently featuring updated AO-40 orbital
elements:
Satellite: AO-40
Catalog number: 26609
Epoch time: 01007.63378031
Element set: 23
Inclination: 6.0423 degrees
RA of node: 232.5105 degrees
Eccentricity: 0.8133763
Arg of perigee: 203.8825 degrees
Mean anomaly: 69.7775 degrees
Mean motion: 1.26906686 rev/day
Decay rate: -1.13e-06 rev/day^2
Epoch rev: 86
Checksum: 278
AMSAT-UK's Richard Limebear, G3RWL, has put some thought into
AO-40's future:
We know so far that the S-band transmitter and the L-band receiver
are working and the IHU-1 is operational. If this is all what AO-40 will be,
we could at least do some kind of 400 baud PSK digital communication
via IHU-1. In addition, if the IF-matrix is functional (and telemetry shows
it linked the S-band transmitter), SSB/CW via a linear-transponder will
be possible. If AO-40 reaches such a state, we will get as much or more
than AO-10 and AO-13 offered, only on more state-of-the-art frequencies.
Imagine if RUDAK and several other receiver and transmitter
combinations can be turned on again.
I'll be patient and let the command-stations do their best to get
as much as possible from AO-40. Also, I keep in mind that AO-40 is an
experimental satellite, and from experiments we can learn.
Richard, G3RWL
[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-UK, AMSAT-NA and the ARRL
for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.02
AMSAT-UK COLLOQUIUM
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 014.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 14, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.02
The 16th AMSAT-UK Colloquium will be held at the University of Surrey,
in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom, July 27 - 29, 2001.
AMSAT-UK is inviting speakers to submit papers about Amateur Radio
space and associated activities, both for the Colloquium and the
Proceedings document to be published at the same time. AMSAT-UK is
also inviting requests for Colloquium program topics.
AMSAT-UK's Richard Limebear, G3RWL, reported to ANS that "normally
the Colloquium staff prefer authors to present the papers themselves
rather than having someone else read them in the authors absence, but
we also welcome unpresented papers for the Proceedings document."
Offers of Papers should be submitted as soon as possible; the final date
for full documents to be received is June 15, 2001.
G3RWL reports that an added Colloquium attraction this year will be
'Show and Tell' presentations. In these, the presenter will be given ten
minutes to tell about a useful project they are involved in. Additionally,
AMSAT-UK will be offering sessions specifically for Amateur Radio
satellite beginners.
Colloquium submissions should be sent to G3RWL via the following
routes:
Internet e-mail: g3rwl@amsat.org
Terrestrial mail: RWL Limebear G3RWL
60 Willow Road
Enfield EN1 3NQ
United Kingdom
More information about the AMSAT-UK Colloquium can be found
at:
http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium.htm
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK Colloquium Program Organizer
Richard Limebear, G3RWL, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.03
AMSAT-DC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 014.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 14, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.03
Space enthusiasts and Amateur Satellite operators are invited to the
Maryland-DC area AMSAT Meeting and Space Seminar. The gathering
takes place on Sunday, April 1, 2001 in the Visitor Center of the NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Topics at the seminar will relate to the amateur space program, Amateur
Radio, homebrew electronic projects, high-altitude balloon experiments,
telemetry and related items. AO-40 and ARISS news will be featured.
The format is a combination of presentations, informal show and tell
demonstrations, followed by a social period. The first presentations and
the keynote address are designed to be especially valuable to beginners.
The GSFC Visitor Center will also be open to the public on this during
the event. Visitors can enjoy a walking tour of the Hubble space
telescope Operations Control Center and the NASA Communications
Center. The Educator's Resource Center will also be available for
gathering student and classroom materials.
More information about the event can be found at the following URL:
http://simsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssamsatdc.html
For additional information on the GSFC Visitor Center, visit:
http://pao.gsfc.nasa.gov/vc/vc.htm
[ANS thanks Pat Kilroy, N8PK, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.04
AMSAT-NA CHALLENGE CONTINUES
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 014.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 14, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.04
As ANS announced last week, AMSAT North America is looking for
members, both new satellite enthusiasts and former members who have
re-activated their interests. To help in attracting members, AMSAT
member Mike Honer, W1BFN, challenged his fellow satellite enthusiasts
by his offer to match (up to $1,000) any amount earmarked for a new or
lapsed membership received during the month of January.
ANS has learned of a new challenge. AMSAT-NA member Gunther
Meisse, W8GSM, would like to join the challenge and offer to match any
gifts or donation to AMSAT-NA from present members, up to a maximum
of $1,000.00, made during the months of January or February 2001.
W8GSM is a seasoned satellite operator, telling ANS "that I'm an old
OSCAR 6/7 Mode A operator who is thrilled by the efforts with AO-40."
Gunther is also an AMSAT-NA life member.
Any matching funds will be used by AMSAT-NA to further advance both
current and future projects.
Need more details on joining or donating to AMSAT-NA? Contact Martha,
the AMSAT Office Manager, at (301) 589-6062, or by e-mail at:
martha@amsat.org.
Information on AMSAT-NA is available at the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org
[ANS thanks Gunther Meisse, W8GSM, for his generosity and dedication
to AMSAT]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.05
OFFICIAL MIR DE-ORBIT DATE ANNOUNCED
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 014.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 14, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.05
Several news agencies are reporting that Russian space officials have
agreed on March 6, 2001 as the official day for de-orbiting the Mir space
station.
The Russian Aviation and Space Agency and RKK Energia reported a
Progress cargo ship with increased fuel capacity will be launched to Mir
on January 18th, followed by the undocking of a Progress M-43 cargo
ship currently at the station. Around mid-February, Mir's control attitude
will be switched off and in early March, three pulses, designed to brake
the station's orbital velocity, will take place.
A final thruster firing is scheduled to take place on March 6th, which
should slow the station enough to drop out of orbit and plunge into the
Pacific Ocean later that day.
Recently, the Russian government confirmed its intention to proceed with
cooperation (with Canada, ESA, Japan and the United States) in the
International Space Station program.
Mir has become a fixture in orbit. The central core of the Russian station
was hurled into space on February 20, 1986. Many Amateur Radio contacts
have been accomplished from the station during its time in space.
[ANS thanks Roy Neal, K6DUE, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.06
ANS IN BRIEF
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 014.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 14, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.06
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** Students from the Attica Central School District will be hoping to chat
via Amateur Radio with the crew of Space Station Alpha very soon as
part of the ARISS program. Fred Gephart, WA2CAM, is handling the
ham radio communications arrangements at the school and the entire
student body has been busy preparing for the event. The approximately
10-minute pass is expected to begin January 16th around 14:57 UTC
and conclude at around 15:07 UTC. -ARISS/ARRL
** The ISS Expedition-1 crew is expected to turn on the packet system
very soon. The ARISS packet system will identify as RZ3DZR-1 and
will transmit a periodic beacon every two minutes. Earth stations are
asked to refrain from using the Packet Mailbox System at this time
as the crew will not have a computer to read messages initially. Packet
reception reports should be sent to the ARISS team. For more information
on ARISS, visit the ARISS Web site at: http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/.
-ARISS/ARRL
** The Dayton Hamvention is accepting nominations for its Amateur
of the Year, Special Achievement, and Technical Excellence Awards
through January 31, 2001. Nominations go to Hamvention Awards,
PO Box 964, Dayton, OH 45401-0964. -ARRL
** The ON1CAU Satellite Page has been updated with more information
about on-line satellite tracking and predictions, Satellite DX-clusters and
S-band equipment. Surf to: http://users.skynet.be/on1cau/.
-Berto, ON1CAU
** The second test launch of China's future manned spacecraft is
expected to take place before the end of January. In addition to testing
all the spacecraft systems, experiments on space remote sensing and
environment monitoring, space materials, life sciences, astronomy and
physics may be conducted too. -SpaceDaily
** AMSAT's Roy Neal, K6DUE, (again) anchored the New Year's Day
Tournament of Roses Parade telecast. K6DUE's history with the Rose
parade goes back to the 1950s, when he produced the parade coverage
for NBC. Most recently K6DUE has served as chairman of the Space
Amateur Radio EXperiment Working Group and remains involved in
the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program.
-Bill, WA6ITF
** What's believed to be the largest MARS net on record took place
recently when 527 Military Affiliate Radio System members from 47
states, Puerto Rico and Guam checked into the MARS net to
celebrate its 75th anniversary of service to the US Armed Forces.
Founded in 1925 the system became the Military Amateur Radio
System in 1948 and was later renamed the Military Affiliate Radio
System. -ARRL
** Scientists recently have shown that an unusual nuclear fuel could
speed space vehicles from Earth to Mars in as little as two weeks.
Standard chemical propulsion used in existing spacecraft currently
takes from between eight to ten months to make the same trip. In
addition, the University of Queensland's Hypersonic team are
about to make the first test flight of the world's first operational
scramjet engine. The scramjet may be the fastest air-breathing
engine ever built, capable of pushing aircraft along at up to ten times
the speed of sound. -SpaceDaily
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-014.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 014.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 14, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.07
Phase 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 / AO-40
Launched: November 16, 2000 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher
from Kourou, French Guiana. 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
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. The next scheduled school contact is set for
January 16th.
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,
operation is expected shortly.
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: RS-12 was re-activated in mode A on January 1, 2001
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.
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
Juan, CE3LWU, reports a UO-14 contact with LU5JB.
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 Amateur Radio
service
The SunSat web page currently 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:
through January 31st - 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-014.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 014.08 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 14, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.08
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 at
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: Semi-operational
Chris, G7UPN, reports to ANS that UO-36 may not be available at
times due to the satellite currently in continual sunlight. Chris reports
this
generates considerable heat and command teams try and keep the
transmitter off do avoid generating additional heat.
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-014.09
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 014.09 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 14, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-014.09
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
in a controlled descent that will send it hurtling into a remote area of the
Pacific Ocean on March 6, 2001.
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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