SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-330.01 IO-26 STATUS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 330.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. NOVEMBER 26, 1994 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-330.01 Alberto Zagni I2KBD announces that, new command stations IK2VOO and IK2OYD have successfully reloaded the high level code IHT, and started it. Whole Orbit Data collections have been started and dumped to ground, allowing ITAMSAT controllers to get a complete status of the satellite. As of November 20, 1994, ITAMSAT, after 14 months from the launch, seems to be in a good health, Alberto added. The spin period is now 18 seconds, the spin rate having increased by 30% in the last six months. All six GaAs solar panels are working well, delivering a peak current of 400 mA each, that indicates no measurable degradation since launch. Wobble of the satellite around Z axis is much decreased, probably due to higher spin rate, while lock with the earth magnetic field is nominal. Battery voltage is cycling between 10.6V (eclipse) and 11.8V (full sun), while cells temperature is between 8 and 15 degrees Celsius. The greatest temperature variation in the spacecraft is measured in the honeycomb structure that support the solar panels that ranges between +20 and -20 degrees C depending on whether or not the satellite is in sunlight. Transmitter B (435.822 MHz) is in operation and the signal is good and easy to decode on the ground, I2KBD noted. Next week the command stations will begin the loading of the BBS code with an expected opening to users by the end of this month. Although the digipeater is ON during most orbits, stations are asked not to transmit while loading operations are underway. Broadcast bulletins from the spacecraft provide information on current spacecraft operations. ANS thanks Alberto Zagni I2KBD for this information. /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-330.02 AMSAT FTP SITE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 330.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. NOVEMBER 26, 1994 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-330.02 TOM CLARK W3IWI reports several people have reported that they have problems reaching the AMSAT ftp site. The most likely reason for the problem is that your host's nameserver is somehow not finding the entry for amsat.org. The host name ftp.amsat.org is an alias for the real computer's name. If you have trouble using the ftp.amsat.org name, then try any of the following equivalent addresses: ftp.amsat.org ftp.qualcomm.com lorien.qualcomm.com 192.35.156.5 We in AMSAT are very appreciative of the contribution made by Qualcomm in providing us with a reliable host with lots of disk space! I still receive one or two inquiries per week asking for ftp access to the host I used to provide as the AMSAT ftp archive -- tomcat.gsfc.nasa.gov. It is now about 20 months since I pulled tomcat offline and made it unavailable for anonymous ftp access. Even if I opened it up again, I have made no effort in nearly two years to keep its contents current and fresh. Therefore I ask that people send me messages asking for access to tomcat! Use the "real" AMSAT ftp host -- ftp.amsat.org -- instead. ANS thanks Tom W3IWI for this information /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-330.03 AO-13 Operating and Attitude Schedule HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 330.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. NOVEMBER 26, 1994 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-330.03 James Miller G3RUH of the AO-13 Command Team announces the following planned attitude schedule for Oscar 13 during 1995: From Dec 19, 1994 to February 20, 1995 180/0 From Feb 20, 1995 to May 22, 1995 230/0 From May 22, 1995 to Jul 31, 1995 180/0 From Jul 31, 1995 to Oct 30, 1995 230/0 From Oct 30, 1995 to Jan 1, 1996 180/0 Beginning Jan 1, 1996 230/0 James notes that there is NO alternative to this. It is necessitated by the fact that the Sun aligns with the apogee/perigee line twice per year. If we were to keep the satellite'sattitude at 180/0, he says, the solar panels would receive no sunlight during these periods. The Mode Schedule from December 19 to February 20 will be: Mode-B : MA 0 to MA 100 |Omnis : MA 230 to MA 25 Mode-BS : MA 100 to MA 130 | Mode-S : MA 130 to MA 132 |<- S beacon only Mode-S : MA 132 to MA 155 |<- S transponder; B trsp. is OFF Mode-S : MA 155 to MA 160 |<- S beacon only Mode-BS : MA 160 to MA 180 | Alon/Alat 180/0 Mode-B : MA 180 to MA 256 | Move to attitude 230/0, Feb 20 G3RUH reminds everyone to not rely on gossip and rumor! Continuous up to date information about AO-13 operations is always available on the beacons, 145.812 MHz or 2400.664 MHz in CW at 0 & 30 minutes past the hour, RTTY at 15 & 45 minutes past the hour and 400 bps PSK otherwise. These bulletins are also posted to Internet, ANS, Packet, PacSats etc, and many international newsletters. A 400 bps PSK decoder is available from G3RUH; and several DSP products, in company with suitable display software, can be used to decode the data. Software such as P3C.EXE is available from many Amsat groups. The AO-13 Command Team welcomes constructive feedback regarding the satellite's operations. The Team consists of: Peter DB2OS @ DB0FAU.#NDS.DEU.EU James G3RUH @ GB7DDX.#22.GBR.EU Graham VK5AGR @ VK5WI.#ADL.#SA.AUS.OC They can also be reached via Internet (callsign@amsat.org) and KO-23. Those sending messages are asked to please state clearly a return address. ANS thanks James Miller for this bulletin information. /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-330.04 MIR WORKED HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 330.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. NOVEMBER 26, 1994 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-330.04 Bob, WE1U has reported that he has worked MIR the last 2 weekends. BOB says that he has used both voice, and packet. Signal levels were good on both occasions. However, on voice the operator asked that I speak slowly as his english was not very good. Says Bob, I never did get his call sign, I can only assume it was DG9MIR. This past weekend on packet, the callsign R0MIR was being used ANS thanks Bob,WE1U for this information. YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE -------------------------- FOR the month of NOVEMBER you have a NEW AMSAT NEWS SERVICE editor, W3QNS. PLEASE send all information to w3qns@amsat.org on the internet or to 76446,1615 on COMPUSERVE. I will be grateful for all help! The AMSAT NEWS Service (ANS) is looking for volunteers to contribute weekly OSCAR status reports. If you have a favorite OSCAR which you work on a regular basis and would like to contribute to this bulletin, please send your observations to W3QNS at the above addresses Also, if you find that the current set of orbital elements are not generating the correct AOS/LOS times at your QTH, PLEASE INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL. The information you provide will be of value to all OSCAR enthusiasts. tnx, bob w3qns /EX