SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC1219 * SpaceNews 19-Dec-94 * BID: $SPC1219 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY DECEMBER 19, 1994 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited free distribution. * NOAA-J NEWS * =============== The launch of NOAA-J has been scrubbed several times over the past few weeks. The latest information I have received indicates the next launch attempt is scheduled for 20-Dec-94 at 2:05 Pacific Standard Time, or 5:02 Eastern Time. * ZRO TEST SCHEDULE * ===================== The ZRO Memorial Technical Achievement Award Program, or just "ZRO Test" has a new schedule for December 1994 through February 1995, via AMSAT-OSCAR-13. This activity is a test of operating skill and equipment performance. During a typical ZRO run, a control station will send numeric code groups using CW at 10 words-per-minute. At the beginning of the run, uplink power >From the control station is set to match the general beacon downlink strength. This is level "zero". The control operator will send and repeat a random five-digit number, then lower his uplink power by 3 dB (half power) and repeat the procedure with a new random number (level "1"). This will continue to a level 30 dB below the beacon (level "A"). A participating listener monitors the downlink signals till he can no longer copy the numbers. Those who can hear the beacon will qualify for the basic award by copying the code group heard at level "zero". The challenge is to improve home-station performance to a point where the lower-level downlink signals can be copied (levels 6 through A). To date, only one station (Darrel Emerson AA7FV) has successfully copied level "A". The following schedule of Mode "B" tests were chosen for convenient operating times and favorable squint angles. The tests can be heard on 145.840 MHz. Andy WA5ZIB will conduct all the tests. Mode "JL" tests are no longer possible due to the failure of A-O-13's 70-cm transmitter. Day Date (UTC) Time Areas covered Saturday Dec. 31, 1994 2045 UTC E. NA, SA, Europe, Africa Sunday Jan. 8, 1995 0030 UTC NA, SA Sunday Jan. 15, 1995 0400 UTC NA, Japan, E. Australia Saturday Jan. 21, 1995 2030 UTC NA, SA, Europe, Africa Saturday Feb. 11, 1995 2000 UTC NA, SA, W. Europe & W. Africa Note that the dates and days are shown in "UTC", thus the second test occurs at 6:30 PM CST Saturday evening (the 7th). Any changes will be announced as soon as possible via the AMSAT HF and A-O-13 Operations Nets. All listener reports with date of test and numbers copied should be sent to Andy MacAllister WA5ZIB, AMSAT V.P. User Operations, 14714 Knights Way Drive, Houston, TX 77083-5640. A report will be returned verifying the level of accurate reception. An S.A.S.E. is appreciated but not required. Information about the AMSAT Awards Program can be found on page 197 of the "Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA Tenth Space Symposium" (1992). This paper, covering all the AMSAT-NA awards including specifics on the ZRO Test, was reprinted on page 10 in the March/April 1993 issue of "The AMSAT Journal". The ZRO Test information provided in the article covers test procedures, means for obtaining certificates and gives some historical background about the program. Reprints of the article can be obtained for an S.A.S.E. to WA5ZIB at the address above. [Info via WA5ZIB] * AUSTRALIA IN MOTION * ======================= BOULDER, Colorado, Dec 6 (Reuter) - Satellite measurements show Australia creeping north-northeast two to three inches (five to eight cm) a year, meaning it will travel about one mile (1.6 km) over the next 20,000 to 30,000 years, according to a university study released on Tuesday. "All these measurements provide direct evidence of tectonic motion that we simply did not have before," said Kristine Larson, assistant aerospace engineer at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado. Measurements were made by the Global Positioning System, a group of 25 military satellites that beam radio signals to receivers on Earth. The satellites, operated jointly by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation, can measure the distance between two points 100 miles (161 km) apart to an accuracy roughly equal to the thickness of two credit cards, Larson said. Larson will present her study this week at the American Geophysical Meeting. The paper was co-authored by Stanford University researcher Jeffrey Freymueller. [Info via UA3APH] * THANKS! * =========== Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews, especially: KZ1Z N1MFK N2JUX SM6OOB ...and Merry Christmas to all! de kd2bd * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * =========================== Mail to SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the following paths: FAX : 1-908-747-7107 PACKET : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org -or- magliaco@pilot.njin.net SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, LUSAT-OSCAR-19, FUJI-OSCAR-20 MAIL : John A. Magliacane, KD2BD Department of Engineering and Technology Advanced Technology Center Brookdale Community College Lincroft, New Jersey 07738 U.S.A. <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> /EX