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[jamsat-news:1454] ANS 084
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 084
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 satellite technology will be discussed
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 Les Reinke, N6AFT.
Les had been having some serious health problems and succumbed to
a massive heart attack recently. He will be sorely missed by both the
ham community and his family. [ANS thanks Dan Andrews, KB5ZUE,
for this information]
ANS is always dedicated to the memory of past ANS editor 'BJ' Arts,
WTØÎ, and to the memory of long-time AMSAT supporter Werner
Haas, DJ5KQ.
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-084.01
PHASE 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 25, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-084.01
Last week, ANS offered a statement from Robin Haighton, VE3FRH,
President of AMSAT-NA, with input and review from other AMSAT-NA
members. Following the ANS release, both the ARRL Letter and
AMSAT-DL also featured AO-40 news.
(from the ARRL Letter)
AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, has issued a likely
explanation of why AO-40 suddenly went silent in mid-December.
Haighton's March 16 statement outlines a three-part failure scenario
theorizing that AO-40's problems began with a fault in a helium valve.
"Initial thoughts were that the spacecraft was completely dead and that
chances of recovery were remote, with the possibility that AO-40 was in
multiple pieces," Haighton said. The satellite's 2-meter beacon quit while
ground controllers were testing the onboard 400-Newton motor system
after anomalies with an orbit-shifting burn that lasted several minutes too
long. It was almost two weeks before ground controllers were able to reset
the onboard computers and restart a beacon on 2.4 GHz.
Ground controllers have been somewhat successful in regaining control
of the next-generation amateur satellite since telemetry transmissions
resumed Christmas Day, but Haighton concedes some onboard systems
may not be recoverable.
Haighton said that while the Phase 3D team may never know exactly what
happened, the likely scenario includes what Haighton told ARRL was "a
minor explosion" aboard AO-40, as out-of-place fuel mixed and then
ignited as a result of a blocked exhaust port on a helium valve. "We think
it was a human error thing," Haighton conceded in an interview with the
ARRL. He did not elaborate.
Ground controllers have used AO-40's magnetorquing system to reduce
the satellite's spin rate to around 5 RPM and are optimistic that they'll be
able to re-orient the satellite for communication with Earth. The
satellite's omnidirectional antennas appear to be lost, but ground
controllers hope the high-gain directional antennas still work and that
reorienting the spacecraft will bring about a resumption of signals from
other transmitters.
AO-40's heat pipe system--which could not work at the higher spin
rates-has begun operating again too, considerably reducing internal
temperatures. But ground controllers are pessimistic about being able
to restore AO-40's 2-meter and 70 cm transmitters. Yet to be tested is
the onboard arc-jet motor, which ground controllers hope to use to
reorient the satellite so that the high-gain antennas will face
the Earth.
"Following the reorientation it will be possible to test the remaining
systems on board the spacecraft and to determine which systems and
bands will be available for future operations and under what
conditions," Haighton said.
(end)
AO-40 was also a topic of discussion at the recently completed
AMSAT-DL Symposium:
The afternoon began with a review of the P3D launch-campaign by
Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, and a video-presentation of the launch itself.
Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, subsequently explained, what had since
happened with AO-40. He expounded that the incident which occurred
on December 13, 2000 has been technically clarified and the human
component, which led to the incident, has been understood. The
catastrophe was triggered by a vent opening of a valve associated
with the 400-N motor. As a consequence remnants of fuel was left
in the cooling shell of the motor which subsequently forcibly escaped
through a leak.
DJ4ZC then explained the current situation of AO-40. The goal
is now to rule out likely problems for the future and concentrate on the
commissioning of AO-40. After successful magnetorquing, the satellite
should be maneuvered to an attitude which permits testing of the Arcjet
engine. The results of this test will then determine further orbit changes
involving the Arcjet and the commissioning of AO-40.
Presently, AO-40 is in a 440 day long cycle in regards to the solar
angle (with alternating phases), with 110 days providing suitable
alignment of the antennas and solar cells for firing of the Arcjet.
Provided the ATOS-tests proceed satisfactorily, the first transponder
operation could begin earlier than originally planned, possibly still in
the first year-half of 2001.
(end)
The 8th AMSAT-DL Symposium was also reported to have been
very successful with more than 120 visitors. In addition, the
annual meeting of AMSAT-DL elected a new Board of Directors
(following the sad death of former Vice President Werner Haas,
DJ5QK, and Dr. Karl Meinzer's wish to retire as president).
The new officers of AMSAT-DL are:
President: Peter Guelzow, DB2OS
Vice President: Frank Sperber, DL6DBN
Treasurer: Hans Dorr, DF4FE
The new AMSAT-DL Board of Directors thanked Karl Meinzer for all
of his hard work during the first 28 years of AMSAT-DL, bestowing the
title of Honorary President on DJ4ZC.
AMSAT-NA President VE3FRH offered his congratulations to the
new officers:
Hello Peter, Frank and Hans,
I was delighted to see that your recent AMSAT-DL annual meeting
went well, and that you were elected to your new positions. I look
forward to working with you on future projects. May I also offer
congratulations to you both on behalf of the Board of Directors of
AMSAT-NA.
73,
Robin Haighton VE3FRH
President AMSAT-NA
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL and the ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-084.02
PRESIDENTS LETTER
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 25, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-084.02
The following is the March Presidents Letter from AMSAT-NA
President, Robin Haighton VE3FRH.
To all AMSAT-NA members,
Spring is finally here and for those who live in the northern part of the
Americas, it is very good to be able to enjoy the Sun again and to
prepare the garden for spring flowers. Spring seems to bring a sense
of hope and renewal, and so it is in the AMSAT world.
First, we hope for the recovery of AO-40 and for the promise of good
things to come and bands to work. I hope that we will soon be hearing
more good news from the Project Leader Karl Meinzer and the command
stations -- these people have worked very hard on our behalf.
Secondly, after many years as AMSAT-DL President, Karl has
relinquished that job, and Peter Guelzow, DB2OS has been elected to
the President's office (with Karl as Honorary President). In addition,
Frank Sperber, DL6DBN, has been elected as Vice President and
Hans Dorr, DF4FE, as Treasurer. AMSAT-NA looks forward to working
with all of the above, just as we have for many years. Congratulations to
all!
Thirdly, new AMSAT-NA projects are being discussed at the project
committee level, and a very good discussion is continuing. Perhaps the
most interesting part of the proceedings is a discussion which is trying to
determine just how to provide the best coverage for smaller Amateur
Radio satellite ground stations -- which bands and under what conditions.
For example, if a satellite is at apogee, then high-gain antennas pointing
to Earth would be the preferred solution, but since the satellite is not
always at apogee, what is the best compromise for all the other positions?
The questions are complicated by many factors (such as spin axis shape).
The Project Committee will attempt to find an answer to these problems
prior to our first formal meeting (to be held soon).
Apart from the design and building of the satellite, we also must think of
the means available for financing this new bird, as even Amateur Radio
satellites cost money to build and to launch. Initial estimates indicate
that
$2 million may be close, however a more accurate figure will be made
later in the year after the preliminary design stage.
I hope that all AMSAT members will be prepared to contribute to this
project, possibly even asking your local Amateur Radio club to contribute
as well! Other ideas include spending time at a local Hamfest as the
AMSAT representative and helping bring in new members.
If every AMSAT member were to raise only $400, the initial estimated
figure would be met!
Can you meet this challenge?
Please send your contributions to our head office, attention Martha, at
850 Sligo Avenue Unit #600, Silver Spring, MD 20910-4703. Martha
is also available by telephone at (301) 589-6062 during normal business
hours.
Each year AMSAT has a booth at Dayton, and we welcome friends,
both old and new, as it is an ideal time to renew memberships. Often
there is a special incentive for those who join or renew. This year
AMSAT-NA will offer a very special price on the newly released
AMSAT-NA Journal on CD.
In addition, please don't forget the Friday night AMSAT dinner at
Dayton, it's a great get together where you can meet many of the
AMSAT officers, builders and others who make the organization run.
I look forward to meeting you there. The Dayton AMSAT forum will
take place on Saturday, May 19th from 8-10 a.m., more details will
be included in future ANS bulletins.
Finally, AMSAT is always looking for new people to assist in the
operation of the organization, and spring is a great time to become even
more involved in your hobby along with giving something back to AMSAT
with your participation. I know how much I have learned about
satellites once I became involved in AMSAT, so don't be shy, volunteer!
AMSAT needs all sorts of people to assist in many activities. If interested,
just send me an e-mail (VE3FRH@amsat.org) and let me know what you
would like to do. Some areas requiring additional people include our area
coordinators, fund raisers, technical designers and builders, legal, and
Canadian liaison with RAC.
That's enough for now, have a great time experimenting, working the
birds and enjoying our wonderful hobby.
73,
Robin Haighton, VE3FRH
President AMSAT-NA
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-084.03
MIR 1986-2001
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 25, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-084.03
The Mir space station broke up in the atmosphere and splashed down in
the Pacific Ocean (as planned) on March 23, 2001, ending its reign as
the heaviest artificial object to orbit Earth. Russian Mission Control
ordered Mir to begin the de-orbit sequence using rocket thrusters from
an attached cargo ship as ground controllers directed the plunge. Most
of the unmanned modular complex disintegrated in the atmosphere. Mir,
the world's first international space station, exploded into thousands of
pieces after the successful maneuver at 05:59 UTC as it flew over the
western central Pacific. Eye witnesses on islands from southern Japan
and across the Pacific reported the fireworks display.
During its 15-year stint in space, Mir set endurance and space adventure
records, along with providing hundreds of Amateur Radio contacts
between ham radio satellite operators and onboard cosmonauts and
astronauts. Mir was a beloved space fixture for many Amateur Radio
satellite operators, who enjoyed communication with the crew, using
the onboard digital and voice repeaters and watching video transmitted
from the station. In addition, there were several Mir-to-shuttle contacts
via ham radio. Many in the world-wide ham radio community were sad
to see the station leave orbit.
Amateurs watching CNN's coverage of the Mir de-orbit were very familiar
with the tracking images shown, as they were generated from the popular
Nova for Windows satellite tracking program authored by Michael Owen,
W9IP.
Mir racked up an impressive number of accomplishments during its
lifetime, including the longest time in orbit for a space station (15
years);
the longest time in space for a human crew member (438 days); and the
heaviest man-made object ever to orbit Earth.
[ANS thanks NASA and several news agencies for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-084.04
KA3HDO HONORED
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 25, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-084.04
ANS is pleased to announce that AMSAT's Vice President for Human
Space Flight, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, has been chosen to receive the
Dayton Hamvention Special Achievement award for 2001. The
Hamvention announcement reads:
Mr. Bauer's countless hours of behind-the-scenes work with the Space
Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) and Amateur Radio International
Space Station (ARISS) programs have made these very high profile
activities a world-wide successes. Mr. Bauer organized and led the
teams that provided the links to schools so that children could talk with
astronauts as they orbited the earth. He developed band plans for
spectrum utilization for Amateur Radio space operations and continues
his leadership role as a technical liaison between the Amateur Radio
service and NASA. Dayton Hamvention is proud to honor Frank Bauer,
KA3HDO, as its Special Achievement Winner for 2001.
In accepting, KA3HDO told ANS that he is just one small part of a
world-wide group of volunteers who are dedicated to keeping ham
radio in space. "I am very humbled to get this award, and I would like to
thank all of hundreds of volunteers around the world that have made
the SAREX and ARISS programs possible. They put in thousands of
hours because they believe in what we are doing in space. They
believe in our youth and they believe in Amateur Radio, " said KA3HDO.
AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, offered his
congratulations:
Frank, may I pass my personal congratulations to you, as well as those
from the Board of Directors and Officers of AMSAT, on your being
awarded the Dayton Hamvention Special Achievement Award for 2001.
Your work on the SAREX Program and ISS has been a model for all
volunteers, and a program in which AMSAT has been proud to work
with you and provide support.
You have made this program a truly International effort, and one in
which all the various participants feel that they have a significant
share in the results.
73,
Robin Haighton, VE3FRH.
President AMSAT
Other 2001 Hamvention winners included CQ magazine Propagation
Editor George Jacobs, W3ASK, named Amateur of the Year, and
Peter Martinez, G3PLX, chosen to receive this year's Technical
Excellence Award for his development of a new low bandwidth digital
mode called PSK-31 that has taken ham radio by storm.
[ANS congratulates Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, and thanks NewsLine
and AMSAT-NA for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-084.05
AMSAT-DC SEMINAR FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 25, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
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
Auditorium of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt,
Maryland.
Special guests include Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, President of
AMSAT-NA, Barry Baines, WD4ASW, AMSAT Vice President Field
operations, and more!
The agenda, worker signup, and more information about the event
can be found at the AMSAT-DC web site at:
http://simsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssamsatdc.html
The event will start promptly at 1:00 p.m. EDT, visitors may come
early to help, set up or take a stroll in the Visitor Center Hall of
Satellites. Visitors can also enjoy a walking tour of the Hubble Space
Telescope Operations Control Center and the NASA Communications
Center, starting at 11 a.m. The Educator's Resource Center will also
be available for gathering student and classroom materials.
For directions and additional information on the GSFC Visitor Center,
visit the web site:
http://pao.gsfc.nasa.gov/vc/vc.htm
[ANS thanks Pat Kilroy, N8PK, AMSAT Area Coordinator, for this
information.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-077.06
ANS IN BRIEF
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 23, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-084.06
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** The crew of shuttle Discovery successfully completed their mission
to the International Space Station, leaving the second station crew
to settle in and begin in earnest the research planned aboard the
orbiting laboratory. Expedition-1 Commander Bill Shepherd passed
responsibility for the station to Expedition-2 Commander Yury
Usachev, UA9AD. Other crew members are astronauts James
Voss and Susan Helms, KC7NHZ. A school contact with the Reible
School, in Santa Rosa, California, was successfully completed on
March 27th with KC7NHZ as the operator for the NA1SS station on
the ISS. This was the first school contact for the new crew. There
also have been several reports of Susan also doing general
QSO's. -ARISS
** April 12, 2001 is the 40th anniversary of manned space flight and
G8ATE, G7HIA and G7OBR will operate a special event station using
the callsign GB1MSF (first manned space flight). Operation will be mainly
from April 12-14th, but will continue on other dates as well. The special
event station will be active on all analog satellites, with emphasis on
RS-12. A special QSL card will be made available. Operating times will
be posted as the event draws near. - Robert, G8ATE
** VHF-UHF and microwave enthusiast Al Ward, W5LUA, reports that
he has documented echoes from the moon on 24 GHz. Ward was able
to hear and record the EME echoes on 24192.1 MHz recently, running
just 20-watts into a dish antenna. -NewsLine
** Bruce, KK5DO, reported that the Houston AMSAT Net enjoyed a
special guest last Tuesday, AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton,
VE3FRH, via telephone link. It was an excellent opportunity to ask
Robin a question or two about AMSAT happenings. If you missed
the event, instant replay of the net is available at the Houston AMSAT
Net web site: http://www.amsatnet.com. -Bruce, KK5DO
** The jolt of excitement from the January discovery of a new high
temperature superconducting metal, magnesium diboride, received
another voltage boost with evidence that the material can carry
electrical currents at high density. A team of scientists from the Applied
Superconductivity Center discovered that the material carries large
currents without the common barriers seen in other ceramic
superconductors. The development may mean advancement in world
electric power applications. -SpaceDaily
** The Administrative Council of the International Amateur Radio Union
has selected the theme "Providing Disaster Communications: Amateur
Radio in the 21st Century" for World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2001.
The recent use of UO-14 for emergency disaster communications in
India is an excellent example. The IARU has been the watchdog and
spokesman for the world Amateur Radio community since its founding
in Paris, France, in 1925. Hiram Percy Maxim, 1AW, was its first
president. -ARRL/Bill, W3XO
** Nominations are now open for the Amateur Radio NewsLine Young
Ham of the Year Award for 2001. Created in 1986, the award recognizes
one young amateur under the age of 18 in the continental United States
for his or her contributions to society through Amateur Radio. Nominating
forms and additional information are available at the Amateur Radio
NewsLine Web site, http://www.arnewsline.org. -NewsLine
** Deep Space 1 is now the proud owner of a gift from its controllers on
distant Earth -- a new load of software. The new computer programs were
transmitted across the solar system as the craft continues its trek through
the cosmos. The previous version of software was loaded in June 2000.
-SpaceDaily
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-084.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 25, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-084.07
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.
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-1
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
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
Peter, OZ4LP, has been hearing W1 stations via RS-12 and is
looking to set up transatlantic schedules with stations in the north
east U.S. and eastern Canada. Interested stations can contact him
via the RS-12/13 operators forum at:
http://www.hotboards.com/plus/plus.mirage?who=rs1213
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 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 heard and worked on AO-10. Mirek, 9V1XE,
from Singapore has been active.
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.
TEPR states on AO-27 were reset on March 24, 2001 as follows:
TEPR 4 = 38 TEPR 5 = 78 (TEPR 5 is now 20 minutes long)
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, features UO-14 information on the Michigan AMSAT
web site -- 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
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]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-084.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.08 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 25, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-084.08
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. Downlink efficiency is in the
high 90% range.
[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
Sat-gate traffic. Downlink efficiencies are in the 70% range.
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 information
and Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for 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
Happy birthday OSCAR-11 - now 17 years in space!
During the period 14-February through 14-March 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 13.8 volts, with a range of 13.4 to 14.1 volts. The
internal temperatures have decreased by about one degree C. They
are now 3.2C and 1.6C for battery and telemetry electronics
respectively.
A WOD survey (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 the over-voltage
condition when the battery is fully charged.
The spin period has varied between 280 and 329 seconds. In
mid-January the Z-axis magnetorquer counter reached 1,024.
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]
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.
Telemetry is as follows:
uptime is 398/08:01:42. Time is Sat Mar 17 11:38:34 2001
+X (RX) Temp 6.654 D RX Temp -0.002 D
Bat 1 Temp 7.260 D Bat 2 Temp 6.049 D
Baseplt Temp 5.444 D PSK TX RF Out 1.705 W
RC PSK BP Temp 1.814 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 1.814 D
+Y Array Temp 1.814 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 4.234 D
+Z Array Temp 16.941 D
Total Array C= 0.365 Bat Ch Cur=-0.064 Ifb= 0.048 I+10V= 0.364
TX:1009 BCR:7F PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:8D
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]
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
Bill, VK3JT, reports UO-36 was operating normally over VK land.
Paul, KB2SHU, reports similar results recently over North America.
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-084.09
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.09 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 25, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-084.09
THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL
AT THIS TIME:
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.
Jim, AA7KC, reports TO-31 has been non-operational over
North America for the past several months.
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]
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: Beacon only. 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.
Telemetry (limited) is as follows:
Sat Mar 17 at 11:45 2001 UTC
LUSAT HIHI 60 AUN ABN AVA AD4 AU4 A6U AEV AE6
LUSAT HIHI 60 AUN ABN AVT ADV AU4 A6U AE4 AE6
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]
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: Unknown, this
satellite has been in orbit for almost six months. ANS has
received no additional information.
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: Unknown, this
satellite has been in orbit for almost six months. ANS has
received no additional information.
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.
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 in January 2001. 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 frequency (listed on the PanSat web site) 436.50 MHz
Launched: October 30, 1998 by the Shuttle Discovery
Status: Unknown
The satellite is not 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]
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: NNØÄJ
Grid Square EN28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
E-mail: nn0dj@amsat.org
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