SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-350.01
MIR AND SAREX NEWS

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 331.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 14, 1995
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-350.01

SEASONS GREETINGS FROM DP0MIR
German Astronaut Thomas Reiter, DF4TR/DP0MIR, who will stay aboard MIR until
February 1996, is going to send seasons greetings for Christmas and New Year
to all HAMs and SWLs all over the world. He will use the digital voice
recorder constructed by Thomas Kieselbach, DL2MDE. The storage capacity of the
recorder is up to 8 minutes. Thomas Reiter will record messages, which will be
transmitted automatically then. As time permits there will probably also be some
"life" activity of DP0MIR. The messages will be transmitted mainly on 145.800
MHz, which is the frequency assigned by IARU for manned spacecraft ham activity. 

MIR QRV ON 70 CM SOON
Because of some missing parts, like the duplexer for the duoband antenna, the
70 cm activity of MIR has been delayed. These parts and a TNC for 9600 Bd are
on their way to MIR now with a "PROGRESS" supply transporter. The frequencies
to be used on 70 cm are 437.925 MHz for voice and 437.975 MHz for packet radio.
The mode will be simplex. This is the first step towards the planned 70 cm
SAFEX II equipment described in the AMSAT Journal, which will later permit
duplex operation.

SAFEX II READY FOR LAUNCH
Most of the SAFEX II equipment has been taken to Kaliningrad by Thomas
Kieselbach, DL2MDE, and Markus Fischer, DG2MJW, and handed over to 
the Russian partners. It is installed in the new "PRIRODA" Module of MIR,
 which will be launched in March 1996. The SAFEX II equipment consists
 of two parts: a 70 cm part for direct and repeater voice QSOs, and packet radio,
 and a 13 cm module for broad bandwidth modes like. g. ATV.
 Some missing parts of this module will be taken to MIR with supply
missions later. SAFEX II is a joint project of the "Deutscher Amateur Radio Club
(DARC)", the "Deutsche Agentur fuer Raumfahrtangelegenheiten (DARA)", and
"NPO Energia" and Russian radio amateurs. The project management is at the
Ham Radio Group at the German Aerospace Research Establishment "DLR" under the
supervision of Thomas Kieselbach, DL2MDE. A technical description of SAFEX II
is published in the recent AMSAT Journal.


ANS thanks Norbert, DF5DP (DARC Coordinator Satellites and Space Projects)
for this bulletin.

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-350.02
PHASE 3D GPS PROGRESS IN PICTURES AVAILABLE ON AMSAT WEB SITE

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 331.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 14, 1995
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-350.02

Bdale Garbee N3EUA, who has been testing and debugging the
computer to be used with the Phase 3D GPS experiment has snapped
a few still images from his camcorder with a video digitizer. 
They show the on-going P3D GPS Receiver integration activity
happening right now in his basement in Colorado Springs.

Those interested, may look in on this activity for themselves via
     http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/phase3d/gps/

Bdale advises us to keep an eye on it.  He says that he will be 
adding more to the page in the future as time permits.

ANS thanks Bdale Garbee N3EUA for this bulletin.

/EX
SB SAT@AMSAT $ANS-350.03
24TH ANNUAL SKN ON OSCAR UPDATE

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 331.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 9, 1995
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-350.03

All are most cordially invited to join in the 24th annual
Straight Key Night on OSCAR, sponsored by AMSAT-NA for Amateur
Radio satellite enthusiasts worldwide.

It's entirely unofficial: no rules, no scoring and no need to
send in a log.  Just call CQ SKN in the CW passband segment of
any OSCAR satellite from 0000 to 2359 UTC on January 1, 1996, or
answer a CQ SKN call from another station.  OSCAR Zero (The Moon)
counts too.  Of course, all SKN operating must be done with a
straight hand key.

Those participating are encouraged to nominate someone they
worked for recognition as having the "best fist." To send in a
"best fist" nomination, please address it via packet to W2RS @
GB7HSN or W2RS @ WA2SNA(whichever is closer to you), via the
Internet to <w2rs@amsat.org>, or via "snail-mail" to W2RS'
callbook address.  Those nominated will be featured in a bulletin
sent to Amateur Radio publications and posted to packet radio
and the Internet in early February.
NOTE NEW USA PACKET ADDRESS.

ANS thanks Ray Soifer W2RS for this bulletin.

/EX