SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-055.01 PHASE 3D HELP NEEDED HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 055.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 24, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-055.01 In preparation for final tests and acceptance by the European Space Agency of our Phase 3-D carrying structure (SBS) for flight, the Phase 3-D Development Laboratory in Orlando, Florida now has an urgent requirement for the on-site loan and use of the following equipment items: An instrumentation A-D converter and scanner card designed for use in a personal computer (PC) along with the appropriate DOS or Windows-based software that can handle data processing for "rosette strain gauge data". The A-D/Scanner card must also have an appropriately coupled external interface (IF) unit suitable to directly input resistance measurements from strain gauges which have already been procured and are now on-site at the P3-D Lab in Florida. Additionally, the A-D/Scanner/IF combination and software must be able to process at least 16 channels of data, if not 32 channels. While not absolutely essential, it would also be very helpful if a person who is intimately familiar with the calibration, functioning and processing tasks of such equipment could also be present for up to a week to 10 days in the late March/early April, 1997 time frame at the P3-D Laboratory in Florida to help conduct these tests. Nominal travel and lodging expenses to and from Orlando can be arranged and/or reimbursed by AMSAT if mutually agreed upon (in advance) by both AMSAT and the qualified individual concerned. We anticipate only the need to borrow the above instrumentation for a short period of time during these tests. If suitable loaner equipment cannot be located, scarce program funds will be required to purchase these items as their use in conducting these tests is flight critical. If anyone knows of a source where these items can be leased, rented or otherwise obtained quickly, or who knows of someone with the appropriate skills and time to give us on-site help with these tasks, please contact one of the following individuals with whatever detailed information about this issue that you may have: Keith Baker, KB1SF ("kb1sf@amsat.org")/FAX: 937-429-5325) or Dick Jansson, WD4FAB (wd4fab@amsat.org")/FAX: 407-644-9782 [ANS thanks Keith Baker, KB1SF, Executive Vice President AMSAT-NA for this information.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-055.02 A0-10 UPDATE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 055.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 24, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-055.02 Based on the altered drag coefficient that Stacey E. Mills ,W4SM, discussed recently, Ken Ernandes, N2WWD, brought the AO-10 keps forward in time to EPOCH TIME 97054.5. Mills checked these out, and he agrees with Ken Ernandes that they are virtually identical to the drag altered keps that W4SM posted last week. Bringing the EPOCH TIME forward may aid some tracking routines. These should be quite good for tracking AO-10 for the next several months. If necessary, the keps be "tweeked." Any observations regarding the use of these elements should be directed to Ken Ernandes (n2wwd@amsat.org) and Stacey E. Mills (w4sm@amsat.org). AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 97054.50000000 .00000010 00000-0 57107-5 0 5005 2 14129 25.8792 163.0281 6052907 93.3854 313.1701 2.05882272103000 BTW: AO-10 IS IN PERIGEE ECLIPSE season, so watch your tracking routine and listen for the telltale FM'ing that signals the onset of these eclipses, as perigee approaches. Please terminate transmissions when FM'ing begins. [ANS thanks Stacey E. Mills ,W4SM, and Ken Emandes, N2WWD, for this news.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-055.03 FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON MIR HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 055.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 24, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-055.03 A problem with an oxygen-generating device on the Mir space station last night set off fire alarms and caused minor damage to some hardware on the station. No injuries to any of the six crewmembers on board were reported. The fire was located in the Kvant 1 module. The fire, which began at 10:35 p.m. Sunday, Moscow time, burned for about 90 seconds. The crew was exposed to heavy smoke for five to seven minutes and donned masks in response. After completing physical exams of everyone on board, U.S. astronaut Jerry Linenger, a physician, reported that all crewmembers are in good health. Medical personnel have directed them to wear goggles and masks until an analysis of the Mir atmosphere has been completed. Lithium perchlorate candles are burned to generate supplemental oxygen when more than three people are on board the space station. The oxygen-generating candles usually burn for five to 20 minutes. Russian officials believe the problem began when a crack in the oxygen generator's shell allowed the contents of the cartridge to leak into the hardware in which it was located. Crewmembers extinguished the fire with foam from three fire extinguishers, each containing two liters of a water-based liquid. The damage to some of Mir's hardware resulted from excessive heat rather than from open flame. The heat destroyed the hardware in which the device, known as a "candle," was burning, as well as the panel covering the device. The crew also reported that the outer insulation layers on various cables were melted by the heat. It is reported by Russian flight controllers that all Mir systems continue to operate normally, however. "It is unfortunate that this incident occurred, but we are thankful that there were no injuries," said Frank Culbertson, Director of the Phase One Shuttle-Mir program. "Russian management and operations specialists have been very informative as to what happened, and we are working closely with them on evaluating the health of the crew and how best to respond to the damage," added Culbertson. "The crew did a great job handling the fire, and the ground support has been excellent on both sides." In addition to Linenger, the Mir crewmembers include Mir 22 cosmonauts Valery Korzun and Alexander Kaleri, Mir 23 cosmonauts Vasily Tsibliev and Alexander Lazutkin, and German researcher Reinhold Ewald, representing the German space agency, DARA. Korzun, Kaleri and Ewald are scheduled to return to Earth on Sunday as previously planned to wrap up a six-month mission for Korzun and Kaleri and three weeks of scientific experiments for Ewald. Linenger will remain aboard Mir until mid-May with Tsibliev and Lazutkin. Officials are evaluating possible impacts to the mission and its science activities, as technical experts at the Russian Mission Control Center investigate the incident. The burned panel and other materials may be returned to Earth with Korzun, Kaleri and Ewald on Sunday for further analysis [ANS thanks Rob Navias of the Johnson Space Center for this news report.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-055.04 NEW AWARD HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 055.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 24, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-055.04 The W A A S (Worked all analogue satellites) diploma is given to those who have worked through particular analogue spacecraft between 1st Jan and 1st July 1997. All claims must be in by 30 December 1997 and include two UK pounds or three US dollars to defray costs; QSL cards are necessary for proof. There are two classes; the class-II award is for contacts through AO-10, AO-27, RS-10, RS-15, FO-20, FO-29, and Mir (presumably SAFEX), and the class-I award adds RS-12 as well for a total of eight satellites. For more information about the awards contact: The Award Manager, OE3JIS Josef Maier, PO Box 116, A-1172, Vienna, Austria. [ANS thanks Richard W L Limebear, G3RWL, for this update.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-055.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 055.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 24, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-055.05 FO-29 Voice/CW (Uplink 145.9-146.0MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9MHz CW/USB) Digital (Uplink 145.85, 145.87, 145.910 MHz FM, Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK) FO-29 is in digital mode at the current time. [ANS thanks, Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK for this update.] MIR: (New frequencies implemented 1 January 1997: Uplink 145.2 MHz FM Downlink 145.8MHz FM) Note, the above split is used for both packet and voice operation. Astronaut Jerry Linenger, KC5HBR, was reported to have worked several stations on Friday 1/31/97 at 1030 UTC, as MIR passed over North America. Valery, R0MIR his working voice daily on night passes over EU. [ANS thanks Francisco Costa, CT1EAT, for this report.] SAFEX, MIR 70cm Repeater (Uplink 435.750MHz FM, Downlink 437.950MHz FM, Subaudible tone 141.3 Hz) The repeater is back up again and active. RS-12: (Uplink 21.21-21.25MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.41-29.45MHz or 145.91-145.95Mhz CW/SSB) The sat is giving extremely good downlink signals on 2 meters. In this period of poor propagation on 15 m, the T-mode is providing very easy access to the satellite. Interesting DX activity has been spotted in Europe with stations in Egypt, Crete, Cameroon, etc. [ANS thanks Stefano Badessi, PA3FWP, for this report.] RS-10: (Uplink 145.865-145.905MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4MHz CW/SSB) Operating normally. Very busy with lots of QSOs heard over north America and Europe. RS-15 (Uplink 145.858-145.898MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.354-29.394MHz CW/SSB) Be aware that RS-15 has battery charging problems. When the satellite is in the dark it has low output power.. [ANS thanks Geoff Perry for this report.] (Hint: If SSB doesn't work for you, try CW. CW is very easy to hear on the downlink!) KO-23 (Uplink 145.85, 145.9MHz FM, Downlink 435.175MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK.) KO-23 operating normally with high downlink efficiency. KO-25: (Uplink 145.87MHz FM, Downlink 436.5MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK.) KO-25 operating normally with high downlink efficiency. KO-25 returned to full service on 1/7/97. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for his reports on KO-25 and KO-23.] AO-27: (Uplink 145.85MHz FM, Downlink 436.8MHz FM) (Feb-22-97 10:26 UTC) It is working normally in its orbits on Europe. [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] As of NOV 2, the AO-27 schedule is as follows: TEPR 4 = 16 = 8 Minutes in Length TEPR 5 = 52 = 18 Minutes in Length TX-3 is on Mid Power during TEPR 5. This will have the TX turn on 8 Minutes after the satellite enters the sun for a duration of 18 Minutes. This is a "back to US Latitudes"operation. N4USI, AO-27's current Command Station sends his thanks all for their messages about the satellite turning on later than expected. He reports he's deliberately letting the "turn on" time drift later (for about 4-5 Minutes) so stations in the southern latitudes can also have a chance to work AO-27. Every few months he will be letting the turn on time drift like this to give more stations a chance to make contacts thru the satellite. [ANS thanks Michael, N4USI , AO-27 Control-op, for this update.] AO-10: (Uplink 435.030-435.18MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 145.975-145.825MHz CW/USB) Operational QRP DX on AO-10 Frank G3MZU worked DL6MBX recently on phone when AO-10 was at a range of 40,000Km. Frank made the QSO with just 25 Watts to a 23 element long yagi. For the downlink 6El Quad and a pre-amp. [ANS thanks John Heath, G7HIA, Net Controller. For this report.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-055.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 055.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 24, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-055.06 AMSAT-OSCAR-16 (PACSAT) (Uplink 145.9, 145.92, 145.94, 145.86MHz FM, Downlink 437.0513MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK.) PACSAT (AO-16) It is working normally in its orbits on Europe.. The WOD files are active again. Graphic information about WOD/Telemetry values can be found at: http://arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/ao16.htm [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] FO-20 (Uplink 145.9-146.0MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9MHz CW/USB) Operating normally. Strong downlink signal. OSCAR-11 (Downlink 145.825MHz. FM, 1200 Baud PSK) During the past month (18 December - 14 January) good, steady signals have been received from OSCAR-11 on 145.826 MHz. The last month (14 January - 17 February) has been uneventful for OSCAR-11. Good, steady signals have been received from the 145.826 MHz. beacon. Mirek, OK2AOK reports hearing the mode-S beacon on January 25th. The signals peaked at S6 on a pass when the maximum elevation was 21 degrees. Telemetry nominal. The solar eclipses have reduced the internal temperatures by about eight degrees compared to the full sunlight condition. The battery appears to be maintaining its charge. The spin period has varied from 300 to 378, but most of the time it is around 365 seconds. The single WOD survey of channels 1, 2, 3, 61, (magnetometers) dated 02-January-97 has been transmitted. When the survey is changed, I will put the data I have collected on the web (see below for URL) Four AMSAT bulletins by Richard G3RWL have been uploaded. Topics have included RS-16, MIR frequencies & schools QSO, AMSAT-QATAR, Microsat 7th anniversary Note: UO-11 transmits on 145.825 MHz fm with 1200/2400Hz tones in what used to be known as the Kansas City (CUTS) tone standard. The bulletin has always included the latest keplerian elements for UO-11 plus other orbital elements when relevant; a plea for feedback; and electronic and mail addresses for comment can be sent to Richard W L Limebear, G3RWL, at the following e-mail address. g3rwl@amsat.org [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, and Richard W L Limebear, G3RWL, for this information.] IO-26 ( ITAMSAT): (Uplink 145.875, 145.9, 145.925, 145.95MHz FM, Downlink 435.822MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK.) IO-26 controllers report that the spacecraft is now in IHT mode. The new ROBOT software is under currently undergoing tests. The beacon reports that the digipeater is OFF and that the ROBOT is undergoing tests. Controllers ask that groundstations please do not transmit on any of the satellite's uplink frequencies for the time being. [ANS thanks Daniele Piercarlo, IK2XRO, ITMSAT Command Station for this report.] DO-17(DOVE) ( Downlink 145.825MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK.) >DOVE-1>BRAMST/V [02/06/97 12:50:08]: : >DOVE is undergoing tests in preparation for its full commissioning. >Thank you for your patience According to Jim White, WD0E, Microsat Command Station, "This message is hard coded into the DOVE PHT software from 1992. We load this version of PHT first because it is solid and proven. We always change this message to one more current as part of the startup sequence. About two minutes later it was changed to: "S-band is on. Power 1 Watt day/night. DOVE Command Team (WD0E)" During the same few minutes we turned on the s-band transmitter, reduced the 2 meter power from about 3.5W to 1W (to allow continuos support of s-band), changed the telemetry interval to 30 seconds (also to reduce power consumption), and set the UTC time." [ANS thanks Jim White, WD0E, of the DOVE Command Team for this report.] LUSAT-OSCAR-19 (Uplink 145.84, 145.86, 145.88, 145.9MHz FM, Downlink 437.1528MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25.) LUSAT (LO-19)is working excellently in its orbits on Europe. [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] WEBERSAT (WO-18) (Downlink 437.104MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25.) WO-18 is back up and taking pictures again. [ANS thanks Tommy Davis, IK3WVJ, for this report.] [Please send your Satellite or News reports to ANS Editor B.J. Arts, WT0N, via e-mail, at bjarts@uslink.net or to wt0n@amsat.org] /EX