SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0703 * SpaceNews 03-Jul-95 * BID: $SPC0703 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY JULY 3, 1995 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited free distribution. * STS-71 NEWS * =============== The Space Shuttle Atlantis began its historic flight to the Russian Space Station Mir on Tuesday with an on-time launch from the Kennedy Space Center. Despite the threat of weather delays, the STS-71 mission and its U.S. and Russian crew of seven were lofted into the cloudy Florida skies at 19:32 UTC. This mission represents the first docking of U.S. and Russian manned space vehicles since the Apollo-Soyuz mission nearly 20 years ago. At the end of joint docked activities, the two Russian cosmonauts launched aboard Atlantis will assume responsibility for operations of the Mir station. The Mir-18 crew, who have been aboard Mir since March 16th, will join the STS-71 crew for the return trip to Earth. One of the Mir-18 crew members, American astronaut Norm Thagard, will return home with the American record for a single space flight with more than 100 days in space. The previous record was held by the Skylab-4 crew with 84 days in 1973-1974. The seven member crew includes two ham radio operators: Pilot Charlie Precourt, KB5YSQ, and Mission Specialist Ellen Baker, KB5SIX. The other five shuttle crew members include Commander Hoot Gibson, Mission Specialists Greg Harbaugh and Bonnie Dunbar and Russian Cosmonauts Anatoly Solovyev and Nikolai Budarin. [Info via Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO, and Ron Baalke @ JPL] * SAREX NEWS * ============== Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) enthusiasts are reminded that the Shuttle Atlantis astronauts will be quite busy during the rendezvous and docking phase of the STS-71 mission. Thus, the crew is not expected to operate SAREX during this phase of the flight. SAREX operations during the docked portion of the mission will also be curtailed due to the SAREX antenna being blocked by Space Station Mir. SAREX operations are expected to be initiated after the post separation burn is performed on 04-Jul-95 at 13:39 UTC. The Goddard Amateur Radio Club's Amateur Radio station, WA3NAN, at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD usually transmits SAREX news and shuttle-to-mission control retransmissions during SAREX missions. Tune to Amateur Radio high frequency (HF) bands at 3.86, 7.185, 14.295, 21.395, and 28.65 megahertz (MHz) and (in the Maryland/DC area) on very high frequency (VHF) bands at 147.45 MHz. You'll hear retransmissions of NASA mission commentary, and actual shuttle space-to-ground transmissions. [Info via Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R] * AMSAT COLLOQUIUM NEWS * ========================= Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ, the Honorary Secretary of AMSAT-UK reports that the annual AMSAT Colloquium at the University of Surrey in Guildford (England) is taking shape. This event should now be considered an International Meeting of AMSAT Groups because of its growth and international cooperation in bringing the Colloquium together. The Colloquium is scheduled for 27-Jul-95 through 30-Jul-95 Doug Loughmiller, G0SYX/KO5I, is in charge of the arrangements for this year's Colloquium. However, as of 16-Jun-95, Doug has only received FOUR papers to be presented at the Colloquium. Ron Broadbent is asking that papers on any subject dealing with Amateur Space Activities be sent for consideration at this year's Colloquium. Papers should be about 2,000 words in length, and should be sent to: Doug Loughmiller 193 Arethusa Way Bisley, Woking, Surrey, GU24 9BT England [Info via Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ] * SA-AMSAT CONFERENCE PLANNED * =============================== The Southern Africa Amateur Radio Satellite Association (SA AMSAT) will be holding its annual Space Communications conference in Durban South Africa this year. Spacecon 95 will be presented in co-operation with the University of Natal's Department of Electronic Engineering on September 9. Spacecon 95 will be arranged in two streams catering for both the newcomer and the more experienced satellite enthusiast. The main stream will feature satellite technology and operation while the supplementary stream will focus on satellites as an educational primer. The theme of Spacecon 95, which has strong self-education overtones, is: "Development through Experimentation". The two stream approach at the conference will make attendance by high school, technikon and college science educators as well as students who wish to take up careers in the electronic and communications industry particularly relevant. While a number of proposals for papers have already been received, there is still opportunity to submit proposals for papers. Please send synopsis of a proposed paper(s) to Spacecon 95, P.O. Box 1842, Hillcrest 3650 South Africa. Fax + 27 31 765-6456. Email: AMSAT@UCTVAX.UTC.AC.ZA TIME TABLE FOR PAPERS July 20 Closing date for synopsis of papers July 23 Authors will be advised of acceptance August 20 Closing date for Camera ready papers. Registration for the conference is now open. For full details send a fax to +27 31 765-6456 or write to Spacecon 95, P.O. Box 1842, Hillcrest 3650. [Info via ZS5AKV] * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * =========================== Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below. Please be aware that I do not have time to research answers to questions, nor do I maintain an extensive database of satellite information. Those wishing additional information regarding the Amateur Satellite Program should contact their local AMSAT area coordinators, tune into some of the AMSAT nets on the air, or write their local AMSAT organizations. Check advertisments in Amateur Radio magazines for addresses. FAX : 1-908-747-7107 PACKET : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org -or- magliaco@pilot.njin.net SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16 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