SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.01 RS-15 UP AND RUNNING HR SPECIAL AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 361.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1994 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-361.01 N2NRD reports that RS-15 is up and running with good signals. His first QSO on the new Russian satellite was with K6GZ at 22:25z December 26. Jim notes that the time between passes is just over 2 hours and comments that it can be confusing with RS-10/11 going over at the same time, working the West Coast on RS-15 when the Midwest and East Coast are in the window on RS-10/11. In accordance with previously available information from UA3CR, RS-15 was to be launched on December 26 at 03:00 UTC into a 64 degree inclination orbit with a period of 124 minutes 24 seconds. The apogee and perigee were stated as 1946 and 1809 kilometers respectively. The uplink band has been stated as 145.857 to 145.897 MHz and the downlink band as 29.357 to 29.397 MHz, with a transponder output power of 5 Watts. It has been reported that there are two CW beacons, one at 29.398 MHz, and the other at 29.353. The power for each has been stated as selectable between 0.4 and 1.2 Watts. RS-15 reportedly carries a billboard with 2 Kbytes of memory capable of transmitting CW messages. The antennas are dipoles and the satellite apparently has no means of stabilization. Its weight is understood to be 70 kilograms. ANS knows of no available orbital elements for this satellite as yet. Some preliminary sets were produced based on the then understood orbital parameters. However, these parameters were for a circular orbit of 2300 kilometers, versus the apogee and perigee values stated above. ANS will release further bulletin as more information becomes available. /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.02 OFFICIAL RS-15 INFORMATION HR SPECIAL AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 361.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 27, 1994 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-361.02 The following labeled "Moscow. Official report" has been received via Internet from "leo@olymp.msk.su (Leo Maksakov)". December 26, 1994 at 03:00 UTC was launched Radio Amateurs satellite RS-15 >From Baykonur space center. RS-15 launched by vehicle "Rokot". "Rokot" is made on base of rocketry boosters (1st and 2nd stages) of missile well known as SS-19 and new booster "Briz" (3th stage). Satellite is spherical like unit about 1 meter diameter and his weight is approximately 70 kg. (used the same trunk as on RS-3 - RS-8). On the board exist transponder, two radiobeacons, CW - broadcast bulletin board (2kb), remote control system and telemetry system. The satellite have not orientation and stabilization systems. All electronics onboard equipment was designed and realized by group of radio amateurs from Kaluga town (180 km s-w from Moscow) under leaderships of Aleksander Papkov. Common coordinations and supervisions to carry out by public organization NILAKT POSTO (aero-cosmic laboratory), Moscow, director Valentin Yamnikov. Full controls of RS-15 as RS-10/11 and RS-12/13 implemented by RS3A controls station at Moscow (head Leonid Maksakov). Sponsor of ground control station is "Unicom", Russia and "UTC", RI, USA. RS-15 transponder bandplan and data: Uplink: 145.858 - 145.898 MHz (from Earth to Sat.) - aprox. 100 Watts IERP Downlink: 29.354 - 29.394 MHz (from Sat. to Earth) - up to 5 Watts Beacon 1: 29.352.5 MHz - 0.4/1.2 Watts Beacon 2: 29.398.7 MHz - 0.4/1.2 Watts RS-15 Orbital data: Orbit number: 3 Apogee: 2165 km. Perigee: 1885 km. Period: 127.45 min. Inclination: 64.59 deg. Time of ascent node: 8:56:17 utc Longitude of ascent node: 54.243 deg. West. More information about RS-15 will be given after complete testing all systems. Please send your reports and comments to controls station (RS3A): P.O. Box 59, Moscow 105122, Russia Internet E-mial: rsgroup@olymp.msk.su Packet: RS3A @ RS3A.MSK.RUS.EU Fax: 7+095-916-2949; 73 de RS-group. Your Reports are Welcome! /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.03 ESTIMATED RS-15 ORBITAL DATA HR SPECIAL AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 361.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 27, 1994 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-361.03 Based on the late information from Russia, Ken Ernandes N2WWD has estimated a new set of Keplerian Elements, in NASA 2 line format, for the RS-15 spacecraft They are as follows: RS-15 1 99915U 94360.16459491 .00000000 00000-0 13414-4 0 26 2 99915 64.5927 174.9040 0173416 233.4418 0.0000 11.27220872 13 Note that "99915" was used as a temporary Satellite ID Number and that no International Designator was provided. This should serve to identify the estimated elements until more accurate Keplerian elements are available >From Space Command/NASA. These elements are base on the following data plus some assumptions: Launch Time: 26-Dec-94 / 03:00 UTC Launch Site: Baykonur Apogee: 2165 km Perigee: 1885 km Inclination: 64.59 deg /EX