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[jamsat-news:1460] ANS 098
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 098
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 Rick Vahan, N4PBF,
a well-known Miami, Florida amateur. N4PBF died recently of
leukemia at age 73. Vahan served as president of the Dade Radio Club,
was a past director of the South Florida FM Association, a member
of Dade County ARES as well as an acclaimed volunteer for W4EHW
at the National Hurricane Center. [ANS thanks the ARRL 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-098.01
PHASE 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 098.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 08, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-098.01
April continues with recovery efforts concerning AO-40. The AMSAT-DL
web page is reporting the following:
Plans have changed recently. We have found that there is a significant
effect at perigee caused (we believe) by the satellite encountering an
atmospheric induced change. This causes ALON to decrease by about
3-degrees each perigee (when the spin rate is at 2-rpm). In addition,
ALON already reduces 0.7-degrees each perigee due to precession of
the orbital plane - so we were seeing nearly a 4-degree change each
perigee pass, or about 5-degrees each day. Despite eclipses, the
magnetorquer is a bit stronger than this effect and we are able to
counteract and actually increase ALON by about 1-degree each
perigee. Shifting ALON from 170 to 270 (at the 1-degree rate) was
clearly going to take a very long time, even given that our assumptions
could be extrapolated to different geometry. Meanwhile, perigee height is
decreasing steadily due to solar perturbations. Because of these
parameters the move from ALON 170 to 270 has been put on hold.
Instead, we are going to change ALON the other direction, taking it down
to 90 and then through and hopefully to 270 later in the year. There
are a number of benefits of this plan:
* Firstly we can use the atmospheric effect to augment the
magnetorquer and achieve a more rapid change in ALON;
* Second, communications will improve rapidly due to the improved
ALON numbers;
* Third, as we approach ALON = we are in a position to try limited
transponder operation, which will surely be appreciated.
During this procedure, AO-40 will go into hibernation again. This is
the name we've given to the state where the Sun sensor system cannot
see the Sun, so the satellite cannot be magnetorqued by normal means.
However, if the atmospheric effect continues to work as it evidently did
during the previous hibernation, this period of poor Sun angle will be
short lived. Also, at this time there is a possibility that the Sun will be
nearly coaxial with the spin axis. The bottom of the spacecraft will be
illuminated (not the top) reducing the effect of continuous, direct
sunlight on the onboard cameras.
Expected Timetable
---------------------------
The following is our best estimate of the way things will evolve. The
Sun angle will reach a point where the sensor will stop seeing the
Sun in early April. Then we wait (perhaps) 4-6 weeks for the Sun angle
reach a recovery point. By this time the ALON numbers should favor
decent beacon communication. Although the Sun sensor will not give
data, the temperature profile will provide Sun angle clues, as can be
seen using recorded (historic) telemetry.
DATE ALON/ALAT SUN AZ/EL SA ILLUM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------
Apr 05 146/0 280/5 -44 72% (lock loss)
Apr 18 110/0 289/11 -79 19%
Apr 25 90/0 294/14 -63 45%
May 03 70/0 299/17 -39 77%
The command team welcomes informed discussion as to why ALON
is rapidly decreasing (the attitude vector direction changes clockwise as
viewed from the orbit plane). This change only occurs close to perigee.
The phenomenon is clearly observed, but is not explained.
(end)
Moe, AE4JY, has placed an updated version of his popular AO40Rcv
telemetry program. The latest version, 1.10, is available at:
http://qsl.net/ae4jy/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-098.02
UNLICENSED OPERATION REPORT
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 098.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 08, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-098.02
The ARRL is reporting that the call for reports of apparent
unlicensed operation on 10 and 12 meters has been
''overwhelming,'' according to Brennan Price, N4QX, administrator
of the ARRL Monitoring System.
Problems with interference to several satellite uplinks has been
well documented in ANS reports. The survey last October was
initiated in response to an increasing number of complaints from
the amateur community.
Price said that more than 400 separate reports, nearly all from
United States amateurs, detailed more than 1000 separate instances
of apparent unlicensed operation. An analysis suggests that nearly
half of the transmissions originated in the United States. Of the
remaining reports, most appeared to document transmissions
originating in Latin America. AO-27 and UO-14 satellite operators
are very aware of similar transmissions and the problems they
cause.
The ARRL has shared its data with the FCC.
Price points out that before the Commission can take any action,
an offending transmission must be documented and its source
found. Price said the FCC relies on the Amateur Service to be
self-policing and has indicated that it is most likely to act in
suspected unlicensed operator situations when amateurs
themselves document the cases. Price said active use of the
bands by licensees is the best way to discourage unlicensed
operation. ''It is not easy or quick work, but it has been
successfully done in the past,'' he said.
[ANS thanks the ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-098.03
ISS SPECIAL EVENT UPDATE
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 098.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 08, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-098.03
As announced last week, the ARISS team has received permission from
ISS controllers to declare April 12, 2001 as a special event day for
Amateur Radio aboard the International Space Station!
The ARISS team is requesting the crew (on a voluntary basis), to attempt
as may general ham radio contacts as possible over the major
landmasses of the Earth - to help celebrate Cosmonautics Day.
This year the April 12th Cosmonautics Day holiday celebrates the 40th
anniversary of the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin, UA1LO, the
30th anniversary of the first space station (Salyut-1), and the 20th
anniversary of the first launch of the first reusable space vehicle, the
American space shuttle.
With the help of the ARISS team orbital mechanics expert Gil, WA5NOM,
the ARISS team has prepared a list of suggested passes for the April 12th
event. Actual pass times may change due to the unusually high level of
solar activity.
Western U.S. 07:53 - 08:13 UTC
Central Russia and Japan 13:43 - 14:13 UTC
Western Russia 18:29 - 18:49 UTC
Australia 18:58 - 19:18 UTC
Europe 19:59 - 20:19 UTC
Check to the ARISS web page for the latest details. The URL is:
http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/
The following frequencies have been announced for ARISS general
QSOs:
voice and packet downlink: 145.80 (worldwide)
voice uplink: 144.49 Regions 2 and 3
voice uplink: 145.20 Region 1
packet uplink: 145.99 (worldwide)
The QSL routes for W/VE stations working NA1SS aboard the
International Space Station:
U.S stations: Margie Bourgoin KB1DCO
Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2) QSL
ARRL, 225 Main Street
Newington, Connecticut 06111
Canadian stations: Radio Amateurs of Canada
Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2) QSL
720 Belfast Road, Suite 217
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 0Z5
A self-addressed, stamped envelope is required to get a QSL in
return. The ARISS international group has not yet finalized a QSL
card design, so it could be a few months before cards become
available.
As this ANS bulletin set is broadcast, the packet system aboard ISS
has been activated! Look for more information in the next edition of
ANS and check the AMSAT-NA bulletin board for the latest data!
[ANS thanks the ARISS team and the ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-098.04
AMSAT-DC MEETTING AND SPACE SEMINAR SUCCESSFUL
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 098.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 08, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-098.04
The Maryland-DC area AMSAT Meeting and Space Seminar was held
Sunday, April 1, 2001 in the Visitor Center auditorium of the NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The event
has proven to be both a popular and successful annual affair.
Rick Hambly, W2GPS, gave a fascinating, detailed presentation on
AO-40 telemetry. Dick Daniels, W4PUJ, presented "What happened
to AO-40" - starting with a slideshow of photos from the Phase 3D
launch campaign and followed with a detailed review of what is
known, suspected and not known about events on-board AO-40.
AMSAT-NA's Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, briefed the crowd on the future
plans for ARISS equipment and enhancements, including packet, SSTV
and ATV. In a related topic, Will Marchant, KC6ROL, gave an update on
current and near-future ARISS operations. On display were examples of
ARISS VHF/UHF and HF antennas as well as an ARISS packet
controller.
AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, shared some of his
views and Barry Baines, WD4ASW, explained his role in the AMSAT
field operations organization and talked about the very flexible roles of
AMSAT Area Coordinators.
Tom Clark, W3IWI, explained just what is required to get a satellite in
orbit as well as other satellite design parameters such as cost, assembly,
reliability and complexity.
Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, demonstrated his briefcase-sized automated
digital satellite station and spoke about the PCSat project.
Bob Rose, AA4RR, talked about his efforts in building an organization
to make Amateur Radio more accessible to students and young people.
ANS congratulates Pat Kilroy, N8PK, and his countless volunteers who
did a polished and professional job of organizing and holding the event.
A photograph of the event (and those who participated) is available at
the following URL:
http://simsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssamsatdc.html
[ANS thanks Maggie Leber, K3XS, for this information.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-098.05
ANS IN BRIEF
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 098.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 08, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-098.05
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** ISS is about to get a helping hand, well...arm. Shuttle
Endeavor will carry a 7-member crew to deliver a Canadian
built robot arm for Alpha. Canadarm2 is longer, and can move
about the space station on a track. The arm will have no
permanent attachment to the station. With grapple fixtures on
each end, the 56-foot arm will move hand over hand along the
station's walls, using a series of power and data ports for each
step. -NASA
** The RSGB Spring Show and VHF Convention is underway.
AMSAT-UK will be represented and AMSATNA President Robin
Haighton, VE3FRH will speak at the event. During the award
presentation ceremony the Louis Varney, G5RV Trophy will be
presented to James Miller, G3RUH. This award is given for
advances in space communication and is in recognition of the
many efforts James done in the amateur satellite program over
the years (congratulations G3RUH from ANS)!
-Richard, G3RWL
** The structure of our Universe has been mapped out to a
distance of 14 billion light-years (almost as far as we can see) by
astronomers who have observed 11,000 quasars with the
Anglo-Australian Telescope in eastern Australia. -SpaceDaily
** The most powerful solar flare ever recorded -- an X20-class
event -- erupted on April 2nd. The event was even stronger than
a well-known flare in March 1989 that led to the collapse of a
power grid in Quebec. However, because sunspot 9393 (the
source of the explosion) is near the Sun's west limb, the bulk of
the explosion was directed away from Earth. -Peter, DB2OS
** Happy birthday to NASA's space shuttle fleet, now 20 years young!
Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off on its historic first flight the morning
of April 12, 1981 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. As ANS has
noted, April 12th is being celebrated as the Cosmonautics Day
holiday, which in addition to the shuttle anniversary celebrates the
40th anniversary of the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin,
UA1LO, and the 30th anniversary of the first space station,
Salyut-1, named Salyut (equivalent to English salute) as a
salute to Gagarin's flight a decade before. -ANS
** ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding Coordinator Joe Moell,
K0OV, says many radio amateurs and scanner enthusiasts joined
the effort to listen for radio tags on endangered Canadian burrowing
owls during the fall 2000 southward migration and continued to
monitor through the winter. Transmitters have been placed on
wintering owls in southeastern Texas, and researchers want to know
if these Texas owls go to Canada in the spring or if they stay
somewhere in the United States. The owls have begun leaving the
Texas study site and will probably be on the move through April.
For exact frequencies and more information, visit the following
URL: http://www.homingin.com. -Joe, K0OV
** Two images of Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica show the recently
discovered 15-mile long crack that scientists expect will turn into a
large iceberg within the next 18 months. The views from NASA's
Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer on the Terra satellite also
reveal differences in the ice sheet's surface texture, highlighting
surface fractures and enabling distinction of rough crevasses from
smooth blue ice. -SpaceDaily
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-098.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 098.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 08, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-098.06
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
As this ANS bulletin set is broadcast, the packet system aboard ISS
has been activated! Look for more information in the next edition of
ANS and check the AMSAT-NA bulletin board for the latest
information!
The ARISS team has received permission from the ISS controllers to
declare April 12, 2001 as a special event day for Amateur Radio aboard
the International Space Station! Specific operating times and modes will
be announced.
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
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
K5OE reports an attempt to work KK5DO during a very high RS-15
pass for both stations. Although frequencies and times were
prearranged, downlink signals were almost non-existent.
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. ZYØÓAT and
S79RN have both been active on the satellite.
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 is 38 / TEPR 5 is 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 July 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-098.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 098.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 08, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-098.07
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 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 is 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 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
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 412/07:44:09. Time is Sat Mar 31 11:21:13 2001
+X (RX) Temp 9.680 D RX Temp -1.817 D
BCR Load Cur 0.397 A BCR Input Cur 0.385 A
BCR Output Cur 0.348 A Bat 1 Temp 3.629 D
Bat 2 Temp 4.839 D Baseplt Temp 4.839 D
PSK TX RF Out 1.805 W RC PSK BP Temp 1.814 D
RC PSK HPA Tmp 0.603 D +Y Array Temp -0.002 D
PSK TX HPA Tmp 5.444 D +Z Array Temp 21.177 D
Total Array C= 0.342 Bat Ch Cur=-0.049 Ifb= 0.043 I+10V= 0.354
TX:1009 BCR:7F PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:48
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
Happy birthday UO-36, two years in space this month!
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-098.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 098.08 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 08, 2001
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-098.08
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 over 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 over 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
was 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 frequency (listed on the PanSat web site) 436.500 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 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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