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[jamsat-news:1659] ANS 034
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 034
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.
This edition of ANS is dedicated to the memory of Alan McMillan, W0JJK,
of Council Bluffs, Iowa, who died recently at age 71. An ARRL member for
more than 50 years, W0JJK was best known as the sales manager for
World Radio Labs. [ANS thanks the ARRL for this information]
ANS salutes Bill Scherer, W2AEF. Bill's contributions to our hobby
included a stint as CQ Technical Director, development of the
antenna-scope and bringing the grid dip meter to Amateur Radio.
W2AEF is among the inaugural group of 50 inductees into the CQ
Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. [ANS thanks CQ Amateur Radio
magazine, published by CQ Communications, Inc. for this information]
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.01
UHF BAND THREAT CONTINUES
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 034.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 03, 2002
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-034.01
American Radio Relay League officials met recently with FCC staff
members as part of the attempt to ward off a new band threat on
70-cm.
League officials delivered a presentation to the FCC Office of
Engineering and Technology staffers concerning SAVI
Technology's plan (already tentatively agreed to by the FCC) to
deploy unlicensed transient RF identification devices between 425
and 435 MHz. The League contends these transmissions will be at
much higher field strengths and duty cycles than Part 15 rules now
permit. The League also informed the Commission that the frequencies
in question are the worst possible choice, and there is no technical
justification for the choice of frequencies.
The FCC acted on the SAVI request last October in an FCC Notice of
Proposed Rule Making and Order. The League maintains the FCC lacks
the statutory authority to permit SAVI's unlicensed devices under Part 15
in the configuration SAVI has requested. A copy of the ARRL
presentation interference study is available on the ARRL's web site.
The ARRL reports it will continue to do whatever is necessary to stave
off the threat, and that could include further direct appeals to FCC
staffers.
[ANS thanks the ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.02
ANNUAL VHF CONFERENCE DATES SET
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 034.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 03, 2002
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-034.02
The Southeastern VHF Society invites ANS readers to attend the
6th Annual Southeastern VHF Society Conference in Oak Ridge,
Tennessee. The announced dates are April 26-27, 2002.
The conference promises to be an interesting event, with many
presentations by accomplished VHF enthusiasts from around
the U.S.A. In addition, the conference will feature antenna gain,
pre-amp gain and noise figure measurements, a Friday evening flea
market with vendor displays, a Saturday afternoon auction and the
Saturday evening banquet.
Registration, program details, hotel and travel information can be found
at < http://www.svhfs.org/ >.
In addition, the Central States VHF Society will be holding it's 36th
Annual Conference this year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The dates are
July 26-28, 2002.
Interested authors are invited to present a paper for the Conference.
Any topic related to weak-signal VHF operation is welcome, including
antenna designs, pre-amp concepts, modern meteor scatter techniques
and software, satellite operations (especially AO-40), PSK-31 and its
applications at VHF, roving tips and techniques, and EME operation with
small dishes.
Papers are welcome in either paper or electronic format, but will be
required by May 5, 2002 to be included in the Proceedings document.
If interested in writing and/or presenting a paper for the 2002 CSVHFS
Conference, please send an e-mail to:
n8kwx@csvhfs.org
For more information about the 2002 CSVHFS Conference visit:
http://www.csvhfs.org/CSVHF02.HTML
[ANS thanks the Southeastern VHF Society and the Central States VHF
Society for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.03
BEST FIST WINNERS
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 034.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 03, 2002
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-034.03
AMSAT-NA's Ray Soifer, W2RS, would like to pass his appreciation to
all the stations that participated in Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2002,
the first to make use of AO-40!
Here is the list of 'Best Fist' winners, each of which received at least
one nomination from an operator he worked during the event:
Charlie Suckling, G3WDG; Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR; Frank Wiesenmeyer,
K9CIS; Vic Politi, W1NU; and Pete Lawn, WA6DFU.
Congratulations all!
[ANS thanks Ray Soifer, W2RS, for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.04
YHOTY AWARD
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 034.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 03, 2002
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-034.04
The nominating period for the 2002 Amateur Radio Newsline Young
Ham of the Year Award is now open. The award is presented annually to
a U.S. licensed ham who is 18-years of age or younger and who has
provided outstanding service to the nation, his or her community or the
betterment of the state of the art in communications through the Amateur
Radio hobby.
Any continental U.S. FCC licensed Amateur Radio operator meeting the
age qualifications who has used Amateur Radio to significantly contribute
to the benefit of the service, to the state of the communications art, to
their community or the nation, is eligible to be nominated.
All nominations must be submitted before May 30, 2002.
Nominating applications are available at:
http://www.arnewsline.org.
[ANS thanks Amateur Radio Newsline for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.05
ANS IN BRIEF
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 034.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 03, 202
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-027.05
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** Bruce Paige, KK5DO, is the newest member of the AMSAT-NA
Board of Directors. Paige, a first alternate, moved to full Board
membership upon the resignation of Andy MacAllister, W5ACM, who
stepped down because of a heavy professional workload. -ANS/ARRL
** A new program of medium-class, discovery missions to explore
the Solar System is being increasingly favored by NASA. It has
considerable application to the inner planets and the Asteroid
Belt. -SpaceDaily
** Starshine 3 has been silent since January 9, 2002. The command
set for the satellite consists of turning the transmitter on or off and
changing the interval between packets. Recovery of the satellite
looks uncertain. -Phil, KC8SRG
** The 2001 AMSAT Symposium awards included a presentation to
Stacey Mills, W4SM, for all the hours he has put into AO-40 as a
controller. W4SM's efforts are appreciated by all AMSAT organizations
and their members who have participated in the operation of the satellite,
or, expect to in the future. In addition, the informative clear and factual
bulletins W4SM posts on the AMSAT-NA bulletin board have been very
beneficial in keeping everyone informed as to progress of the satellite.
-ANS
** The size of ice domes and movement of ice rafts on the surface of
Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, are consistent with what one could
expect of melting caused by a hydro-thermal vent plume, or plumes, in
an ocean beneath the ice, according to the University of Washington.
-SpaceDaily
** Former astronaut and Marine Corps Major General Charles Bolden
will return to NASA as Deputy Administrator, pending legislative approval
of his nomination. -NASA
--ANS BULLETIN END---
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 034.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 03, 2002
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-034.06
Phase 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 / AO-40
Launched: November 16, 2000 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher
from Kourou, French Guiana.
Status: Currently, the U/L-1 to S-2 passband is active at times.
Uplink U-band 435.550 - 435.800 MHz CW/SSB
L1-band 1269.250 - 1269.500 MHz CW/SSB
L2-band 1268.325 - 1268.575 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 2401.225 - 2401.475 MHz CW/SSB
AO-40 experimental transponder operation started on May 05, 2001 at
approximately 08:00 UTC when the U-band and L1-band uplinks were
connected to the S-2 transmitter passband downlink via the Matrix
switch. Some 58 DXCC countries were QRV on AO-40 in 2001.
Mike, KD9KC, reports very good conditions with AO-40 lately.
Mike has a total of 153 grids and 40 states worked on AO-40.
Paul, VP9MU, told ANS that the number of telemetry capture
submissions to the archive has fallen off severely over the last few
months. Paul suggests that if stations are capturing telemetry from
AO-40, please send a copy of the data to the AO-40 archive at:
ao40-archive@amsat.org.
For the current transponder-operating schedule visit:
http://www.amsat-dl.org/journal/adlj-p3d.htm
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL and the ARRL 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 NOCALL
ARISS initial station launched September 2000 aboard shuttle Atlantis.
ARISS is made up of delegates from major national Amateur Radio
organizations, including AMSAT.
Status: Operational.
The ISS packet station (normally) available for UI packets. The mailbox
and keyboard is currently disabled. Please see the packet section of
the ARISS web page before attempting to first work ISS on packet.
On Friday, February 1, 2002 some tough questions required thoughtful
and detailed answers from astronaut Dan Bursch, KD5PNU. Bursch
represented the ISS Expedition-4 crew during an interview with seven
high school physics students at Butte High School in Butte, Montana.
Upcoming student contacts are scheduled with Deep Creek Elementary
School in Oregon; Quogue Union Free School and Vestal Senior High
School in New York; Kursk Technical University in Russia; Harrogate
Ladies College in the United Kingdom and the Zeehan Primary School
in Australia.
NASA information on the ISS station can be found at:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/reference/radio/
The ISS daily crew schedule (which gives an idea when crew members
have free time and may be available for Amateur Radio operations) can
be found at:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines/2001/may/index.html
A detailed breakdown of the antenna installation with some great
pictures and diagrams (depicting the entire ISS ham system including
antenna's) can be downloaded at:
http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/EVAs/amsat01.pdf
U.S. callsign: NA1SS
Russian callsigns: RS0ISS, RZ3DZR
The QSL routes for W/VE stations working NA1SS aboard the
International Space Station:
U.S. stations (a SASE is required to get a QSL in return):
Margie Bourgoin, KC1DCO
Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2, 3) QSL
ARRL, 225 Main Street
Newington, Connecticut 06111
Canadian stations:
Radio Amateurs of Canada
Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2, 3) QSL
720 Belfast Road, Suite 217
Ottawa, Ontario KEG 0Z5
European stations (a SASE and 2 IRC's are required to get
a QSL in return).
AMSAT-France
14 bis, rue des Gourlis
92500 Rueil Malmaison
France
[ANS thanks Will Marchant, KC6ROL, and Jean-Louis Rault, F6AGR,
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
Robot 29.454 MHz (145.831 MHz uplink)
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 RS-12 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. Malc, G7NFO,
reports signals on AO-10 during this past week have been excellent,
as did Bob, W7LRD. Jerry, K5OE, also reports strong downlink signals
and only moderate QSB.
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, with updates by Ray, W2RS. 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 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
On December 9, 2001 Chuck, KM4NZ, reset the TEPR states on AO-27
as follows: TEPR 4 - 19
TEPR 5 - 59
[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
Ray, W2RS, has revised the AO-27 FAQ on < www.amsat.org > to
include information on UO-14.
[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 FO-20 control station operators believe that the
UVC (Under Voltage Controller) now is regulating the transponder. The
controller 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
Last reported, the JARL FO-29 command station announced the
operation schedule of FO-29 as mode JA through March 2002.
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-034.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 034.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 03, 2002
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-034.07
PCSat
Uplink/downlink 145.827 MHz 1200 baud AX-25 AFSK via PCSAT-1
Aux/Uplink 435.250 MHz 9600 baud via PCSAT-2 (off)
APRS Downlink 144.390 MHz (Region 2)
Launched: September 30, 2001 aboard an Athena-1 rocket from the
Kodiak, Alaska launch complex. Status: Operational
Bob, WB4APR, reports PCSat operated its GPS system almost full time
between January 7-21, 2002 (while it was in full Sun), allowing PCSat to
be the first satellite to report its own exact position directly to all users
for immediate display on their APRS maps.
Currently, PCSat is back into 35% eclipses.
As the first in what is hoped to be a constellation of future Amateur
Radio satellites doing dumb digipeating to mobile users, PCSat
planned to use the digipeater alias of APRSAT and encourage its
use on all such space digipeaters. Since this mission can also be
supported by the existing ISS digipeater as well, PCSat has
temporarily dropped the APRSAT alias and added NOCALL to its
alias list (to be compatible with the ISS) so that mobile users do
not have to re-configure between ISS and PCSat passes.
PCSat is a 1200-baud APRS digipeater designed for use by
stations using hand-held or mobile transceivers. Downlinks feed a
central web site < http://pcsat.aprs.org >. The APRS-equipped
PCSat was built by midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy
under the guidance of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR.
For more information, visit the PCSat web site at:
http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/pcsat.html
[ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for PCSat information]
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
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.
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for this 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 is operational with heavy Sat-gate traffic.
Downlink efficiency is above 50%.
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 15-December through 14-January good signals
have been received from the 145 MHz beacon. The internal
temperatures have been fairly static with no particular trends observed.
These temperatures are now 5.6 and 4.0 C for battery and telemetry
electronics respectively. The battery voltage observed during daylight
passes is unchanged. The average value observed was 13.8 volts with
a range of 13.5 to 14.1 volts. The rate at which the SEU counter
increments has continued to increase from 516 to 771 counts per day.
The spin period has drifted between 179 and 247 seconds. Attitude is
controlled solely by the gravity boom gradient (as the Z-axis
magnetorquer counter has reached saturation (1024). Ground control
action is awaited to reset the magnetorquer pulse counters.
The operating schedule is unchanged.
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 712/18:17:31. Time is Fri Jan 25 22:00:37 2002
+10V Bus 10.400 V +Z Array Temp -0.002 D
+X (RX) Temp 4.839 D RX Temp 15.731 D
Bat 1 V 1.248 V Bat 2 V 1.238 V
Bat 3 V 1.245 V Bat 4 V 1.264 V
Bat 5 V 1.263 V Bat 6 V 1.254 V
Bat 7 V 1.249 V Bat 8 V 1.272 V
Bat 1 Temp 10.890 D Bat 2 Temp 10.285 D
Baseplt Temp 10.285 D PSK TX RF Out 1.607 W
+Y Array Temp -11.499 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 7.260 D
Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.441 Ifb= 0.193 I+10V= 0.265
TX:1009 BCR:1E PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:A7
A 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]
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-034.08
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 034.08 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 03, 2002
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-034.08
THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL
OR SEMI-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME:
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: Non-operational.
Jim, AA7KC, reports that KO-23's downlink transmitter continues in a
non-operational status.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ,
for KO-23 status 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: Non-operational
Paul, KB2SHU, reports that he is receiving data from KO-25,
however, Jim, AA7KC, reports that KO-25 has been non-operational
during recent passes over his QTH. Jim reports the downlink
transmitter is very weak and intermittent. Both stations continue to
review KO-25 status. ANS thanks AA7KC and KB2SHU for their help
with KO-25.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for this 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: Unknown
UO-36 carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward
communications and mode L/S transponders.
Paul, KB2SHU, tells ANS that UO-36 has not been operational (over
North America) since late July 2001. In addition, Sangat, 9M2SS,
reports he has not copied UO-36 since July 30, 2001.
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
UO-36 information]
TMSAT-1 TO-31
Uplink 145.925 MHz (9600-baud FSK)
Downlink 436.925 MHz (9600-baud FSK)
Broadcast Callsign: TMSAT1-11
BBS TMSAT1-12
Launched: July 10, 1998 by a Zenit rocket from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome. Status: Non-operational, no data downlinked
since December 18, 2000.
Chris G7UPN, (UoSAT operations manager) reports the
following to ANS:
The TO-31 downlink will be off over most areas, with the exception of
Europe and Thailand.
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 is as follows:
Time is Jan 25 20:58:00 2002
LUSAT HIHI 60
CW-Code: ava abv aav adb at4 ab6 ttu aae
5V-reg.: 4.85 V 8.5V-reg: 6.44 V
10V-Bat: 11.07 V 10V-Curr: 123.2 mA
TX-Pwr : 0.977 W TX-Temp.: 7.68 ?C
+Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 11.39 ?C
CW-Code: ava abv aa4 adb ate abe ttu aee
5V-reg.: 4.85 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V
10V-Bat: 11.07 V 10V-Curr: 122.5 mA
TX-Pwr : 0.977 W TX-Temp.: 7.33 ?C
+Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 11.04 ?C
CW-Code: ava abv aae adb at6 abe ttu aee
5V-reg.: 4.85 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V
10V-Bat: 11.07 V 10V-Curr: 122.5 mA
TX-Pwr : 0.977 W TX-Temp.: 6.97 ?C
+Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 10.68 ?C
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 8 months. ANS has received no additional
information.
When/if operational, 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 8 months. ANS has received no additional
information.
When/if operational, 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]
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.
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.
The Naval Postgraduate School developed PanSat. At the time of
launch, PanSat spread-spectrum digital transponders were to
be available to Amateur Radio operators along with software to utilize
this technology.
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 is released worldwide via the AMSAT ANS e-mail reflector and a
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ANS would like to thank Mike Seguin, N1JEZ, ANS principal satellite
investigator, for helping provide current satellite information.
ANS is always dedicated to the memory of past ANS editor 'BJ'
Arts, WT0N, and to the memory of long-time AMSAT supporters
Werner Haas, DJ5KQ, and Dennis Kitchen, G0FCL.
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
/EX
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