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[jamsat-news:1436] ANS 049
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 049
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 developments
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 ARRL staff member
Paul Kokoszyna, KA1TRF, of Southwick, Massachusetts, who died
recently at the young age of 35. He had been hospitalized with pneumonia.
KA1TRF joined the ARRL staff as a web applications developer in the
Electronic Publications Branch last June. "In the short time he was here,
Paul proved himself to be dedicated, conscientious, friendly, and
supportive of his fellow staff members," said ARRL Executive Vice
President David Sumner, K1ZZ. [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-049.01
PHASE 3D/AO-40 UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 049.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 18, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-049.01
If no news is good news then readers of ANS will be happy to learn
that the month of February continues with on-going recovery efforts
of AMSAT OSCAR 40.
The AMSAT-DL web site is currently featuring the following statement:
There is no spectacular news about AO-40. The spacecraft is still in a
stable mode as the attitude drifts toward further improvements in early
April. Times of best reception have varied as expected.
Joe Wheatley, AE4JY, has released version 0.4 of AO40Rcv. The main
change is a TCP/IP-server feature that connects with W4SM's P3T
program. More information is available at:
http://www.qsl.net/ae4jy/ao40rcv.htm
Stacey Mills, W4SM, has also updated his P3T program, correcting a
few malfunctioning sensors. More information is available at:
http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm2/software2/
ALON/ALAT is currently 248/-7, as last listed on the AMSAT-DL
web page.
The AMSAT-UK web site is also featuring news of AO-40:
AO-40 continues in its attitude-induced limbo and there is no new news.
As the attitude drifts - the optimum MA's to hear the spacecraft are now
earlier in the orbit. AO-40 is best heard between MA 2 and MA 14.
AO-40's orbital parameters (number 38) are as follows:
Satellite: AO-40
Catalog number: 26609
Epoch time: 1046.15851798
Element set: 38
Inclination: 5.6690 deg
RA of node: 222.2686 deg
Eccentricity: 0.8134836
Arg of perigee: 221.7796 deg
Mean anomaly: 34.0600 deg
Mean motion: 1.26948856 rev/day
Decay rate: -8.3E-07 rev/day^2
Epoch rev: 135
Stay tuned to AMSAT News Service, the official source of AO-40 news
and information.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NA for this
information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-049.02
NEW SAREX LIST SERVICE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 049.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 18, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-049.02
Last week, ANS reported on a new AMSAT-NA service - messages
from the AMSAT-NA bulletin board are now available on the web!
This new service has now been extended to the SAREX mailing list,
as reported by Vice President of Electronic Publications, Paul
Williamson, KB5MU.
Indexes by date, by thread, and by author are available. Archives of the
current messages for several convenient periods are available, and
monthly archives are also available.
If you have to unsubscribe from the SAREX mailing list for a while, you
can catch up on what you missed by browsing the web archives. You
may even find the web archives easier to use than the mailing list itself.
Need more information? Visit the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/sarex/index.html.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA Vice President of Electronic Publications, Paul
Williamson, KB5MU, for his hard work in putting this new service into
operation]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-049.03
TAPR APPOINTS NEW DIRECTORS, SECRETARY
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 049.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 18, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-049.03
TAPR has informed ANS that Steve Stroh, N8GNJ, and Byon Garrabrant,
N6BG, have been appointed to the TAPR Board of Directors. In addition,
Guy Story, KC5GOI, has been appointed as the organization's secretary.
N8GNJ is a long time member of TAPR. He lives in Woodinville,
Washington, a suburb of Seattle, where he is a member of the Puget
Sound Amateur Radio TCP/IP Group. He was also recently named
Digital Editor for CQ Amateur Radio Magazine.
N6BG has been active in packet radio and transmitter hunting since
he was first licensed in 1990. He served as the Digital Communications
Officer for the Orange County, California RACES group, maintaining the
group's packet BBS along with organizing digital communication
exercises using packet message-passing software he created.
KC5GOI was first licensed in 1994 and has been an active packet radio
user since his first day as a ham. Guy is also the APRS Chairman and
a repeater control operator for the Denton County, Texas Amateur Radio
Association, where he is an assistant emergency coordinator for Denton
County ARES.
TAPR (officially Tucson Amateur Packet Radio, Inc.) is a non-profit
research and development corporation dedicated to advancing
Amateur Radio through digital technology.
[ANS thanks Tucson Amateur Packet Radio, Inc for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-049.04
ANS IN BRIEF
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 049.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 18, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-049.04
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** The next school/ISS contact is scheduled this week. The Merivale,
Ottawa, Canada school contact is set for Thursday, February 22nd,
from 18:29 to 18:40 UTC. -ARISS
** The shuttle Atlantis undocked Friday from the International Space
Station after successfully completing the assembly of a U.S.-built
space laboratory. Stiff wind prevented space shuttle Atlantis from
returning to Earth on Sunday, keeping the rocketship and its crew in
orbit a 12th day. Mission Control ordered the astronauts, on their way
back from the international space station, to remain aloft until Monday
afternoon. -NASA
** The AMSAT-SM Satellite Operator Database is operating. Amateur
Radio satellite operators are invited to visit the AMSAT-SM site and add
station and QSL information, search for callsigns and even enter
requests for schedules. Visit the following URL for more information:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-sm/database.html. -Lars, SM0TGU
** Duplicating the harsh conditions of cold interstellar space in their
laboratory, NASA scientists have created primitive cells that mimic
the membranous structures found in all living things. These chemical
compounds may have played a part in the origin of life. -SpaceDaily
** On February 12, 2001 the NEAR spacecraft touched down on the barren,
rocky surface of Eros, successfully completing history's first landing on an
asteroid. NEAR's landing was confirmed when Mission Control received a
beacon signal from the craft resting on the surface of Eros, some
196 million miles from Earth! -NASA
** Russian space officials have postponed the de-orbiting of the Mir space
station until mid-March. The 15-year-old station will now be brought down
between March 13 and 18th. The de-orbit had previously been scheduled
for early March. Experts have predicted that atmospheric conditions during
the later period would allow more of the orbiter to be burned up as it
enters the Earth's atmosphere. -CNN
** The search for Earth-like life on other worlds should focus on solar
systems with Jupiter-like planets, a University of Arizona scientist
reported
in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
-SpaceDaily
** Joaquim das Virgens, PS7JN, is planning a satellite DXpedition to
St Peter and St Paul Island (PY0-S), operating for 2 weeks from late
March to mid-April. His main activity will be scientific in nature,
exploring
the geological aspects of the area. PS7JN plans operation on AO-10,
UO-11, FO-20 and FO-29. St Peter and St Paul Island is a little group
of rocks some 1,100 km from Brazil. -Joaquim, PS7JN
** Hams assisting with earthquake relief operations in the Indian State of
Gujarat took advantage of the UO-14 satellite to help provide radio
communication from the stricken region. The death toll from the quake
is estimated at up to 50,000 with more than 600,000 left homeless.
-ARRL
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-049.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 049.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 18, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-049.05
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.
The V-band, U-band and the L-band (L1) receivers are working on the
the high-gain antennas. The omni-directional antennas appear to be
non-functional. The attitude control system is functional.
[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)
ARISS is made up of delegates from major national Amateur Radio
organizations, including AMSAT.
U.S. callsign: NA1SS
Russian callsign: R0ISS, RZ3DZR
German call sign: DL0ISS
The next school/ISS contact is scheduled this week. The Merivale,
Ottawa, Canada school contact is set for Thursday, February 22nd,
from 18:29 to 18:40 UTC.
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
Happy birthday RS-12, now 10 years old!
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
Several stations have furnished ANS with recent RS-15 telemetry
information:
System voltage: 14.8v
Transponder output: 4/10w
Solar Cells: 17.6v @ 420mA
Consumption: 520 mA
10m TX Temp: 12C
2m RX Temp: 5C
Stabilizer Temp: 7C
Dave, WB6LLO, has operating information for both RS-15 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.
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]
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
Happy birthday FO-20, now 11 years old!
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.
[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 April 2, 2001 - 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-049.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 049.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 18, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-049.06
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 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
HL0ENJ, the command ground station of KO-25, reported the
OBC crashed recently. Operating software was successfully
re-loaded. KO-25 is reported to be back in normal operation.
[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
last reported, Jim, AA7KC, told ANS that UO-22 was operational
with heavy individual and Sat-gate 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
During the period 16-January to 14-February 2001 good signals have
been received from the 145 MHz beacon. The battery voltage observed
during daylight passes is slightly lower. The average value observed
was 13.9 with a range of 13.7 to 14.1 volts. The internal temperatures
have slightly decreased. They are now 4.6C and 2.8C for battery and
telemetry electronics respectively.
The WOD survey of channels 10, 20, 30, 40 (+Y, -X, +X, solar array
currents, array voltage) - dated 06 January - has been transmitted.
The array voltage shows the effect of the solar eclipses. The array
voltage also shows the decrease of battery voltage during dark
periods, the constant voltage during charge, and over-voltage when
the battery is fully charged.
The spin period has varied between 280 and 315 seconds. At the start
of the reporting period the Z-axis magnetorquer counter reached 1,024.
Reports of mode-S reception have been received from Andy, VK3TDO,
and Jorge, LU4EBC. Both stations report hearing weak signals using SSB
converters with 60-cm dishes.
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 437.126 MHz. No
BBS service is available. The digipeater is not active.
Frank, DL6DBN / AA9KJ, recently measured the frequency of LO-19's
CW-beacon as 437.126 MHz. DL6DBN reported LO-19 signals were
solid copied with a small yagi. His calculated LO-19 values were done
with a "quick hack" DOS-software that Frank has available on his web
site:
http://www.dl6dbn.de/amsat/lo-19
Telemetry (limited) is as follows:
Sat Feb 17 at 22:05 2001 UTC
LUSAT HIHI 60 AVT ABV AAB AB6 ATD ABT TTU AEE
LUSAT HIHI 60 AVT ABV AAD AD6 ATN A6N TTU AEE
LUSAT HIHI 60 AVT ABV AAN AD6 AAT A6N 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 the 70-cm transmitter is at about 2-watts output
and WOD is being collected to watch the battery temps to see if they
stabilize to previous levels. S-band transmitter operation is scheduled
to resume the weekend of February 17th.
Telemetry is as follows:
uptime is 370/18:21:09. Time is Sat Feb 17 21:57:09 2001
+10V Bus 10.100 V +Z Array V 0.205 V
Bat 1 V 1.210 V Bat 2 V 1.187 V
Bat 3 V 1.208 V Bat 4 V 1.234 V
Bat 5 V 1.191 V Bat 6 V 1.194 V
Bat 7 V 1.208 V Bat 8 V 1.239 V
Bat 1 Temp 7.260 D Bat 2 Temp 7.260 D
Baseplt Temp 6.654 D PSK TX RF Out 1.535 W
RC PSK BP Temp -1.817 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -1.817 D
+Y Array Temp -21.180 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 2.419 D
+Z Array Temp -12.709 D
Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.421 Ifb= 0.186 I+10V= 0.250
TX:1009 BCR:1E PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:9A
Beacon text: Happy 11th birthday to AO-16, LO-19, UO-14.
AO-16 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.
Last reported, Jim, AA7KC, told ANS that small amounts of data
was downlinked (but not decodable) from TO-31.
Chris G7UPN, (UoSAT operations manager) reports the following
to ANS:
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.
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
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-049.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 049.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 18, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-049.07
THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL
AT THIS TIME:
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
The SunSat team released the following statement, dated
February 1, 2001:
We regret to announce that the last communication with SunSat from
our ground station at the Electronic Systems Laboratory at Stellenbosch
University took place recently. We are certain, after having performed
several tests since the last contact, that an irreversible, physical failure
has occurred on the satellite. It is therefore unlikely that we will have
any
further contact with SunSat, apart from the occasional visual sighting by
telescope!
When it was operational the SunSat package included 1200 and 9600
baud digital store-and-forward capability and a voice 'parrot' repeater
system in addition to Mode B/J operation with two VHF and two UHF
transmit-receive systems.
For more information on SunSat visit the following URL:
http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za
[ANS thanks Garth Milne, ZR1AFH, 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: non-operational (last operational in mode-T)
RS-12 was 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.
Jeff, KB2WQM, reported to ANS that he noticed KO-23 transmitting a
solid carrier recently (no data), Mineo, JE9PEL, also reported receiving
KO-23 carrier signals.
[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 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 in March 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 has been in orbit for 11 years.
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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