Satgen429   Happy Anniversary RS10  by GM4IHJ  (BID SGEN429) 14 Jun 97

On 23rd June 1987, RadioSport 10/11 lifted off the Plesetsk launch
site  high in the Russian Arctic. Ten years later we celebrate this
superb satellite, which while some 9 or more other amateur radio
satellites have come and gone, continues to provide excellent service.

Indeed, to get the whole Russian effort in perspective. They have
built and successfully orbited for years, more than one third of all
amsats ever launched. For in addition to RS10 we can add :-
   RS1 and RS2   comsats  launched Oct 78
   RS3/4/5/6/7/8  two beacon sats and 4 comsats launched Dec 81
   ISKRA2 and ISKRA3 comsats launched May and Nov 82
   RS14 comsat launched Jan 91
   RS12/13 comsats launched Feb 91
   RS15 comsat launched Dec 94
   RS16 presently beacons only launched Mar 97

Accessible to relatively simple ground stations, these RS satellites
have provided the first introduction to space radio for a whole
generation of radio amateurs, with their almost infinite Mean Time
Between Failures MTBF ( in marked contrast to the quarterly or monthly
down time incidents of the digital amsats). Whilst in addition to this
vital simple service, they have also provided thousands of interesting
DX contacts, including the only confirmed antipodeal amateur radio
satellite two way communication (UK to and from New Zealand by G3IOR).
Something the high altitude sats have yet to achieve. 

For the radio experimenters the RS sats have been simply priceless.
Although many books contain drawings of theoretical downward looking
ionospheric radio sounders , only the RS series of satellites has
given regular service in this important and often overlooked field.
Uosat 9 was there albeit on much reduced antenna performance for a
short while, but for consistent ionospheric studies through most of 
two solar cycles and ongoing into the next, only the RS sats have been
continously available.

At present, at solar activity low, there is some but not much sub
horizon DX via the RS sats , but over the next few years this will
improve greatly and the RS sats will be there for those seeking
propagation data and or super DX, and none of this will require you to
fork out a fortune to pay for specialised equipment. Any ordinary
amateur radio station equiped for HF and VHF transmit and receive, at
low power can use RS sats, and, the antenna requirements are minimal
for those who wish to try this sport.

So if you have not tried them . Take a look at RS10 or RS12 to start
with. RS15 does require more sophisticated operating techniques to get
the best out of it, but then it does give the best DX at this solar
activity minimum, though RS12 will come into its own as the sunspot
numbers begin to climb. PS. Good news for experimenters interested in
downward looking ionospheric sounders . CHAMP a German built gravity
and magnetic research sat planned for launch in July 99 will carry
atmosphere and ionosphere sounding equipment.