SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.01 AMSAT FILES SS COMMENTS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-131.01 On May 5th AMSAT filled comments with FCC in response to Docket WT 97-12 which proposes changes to Part 97, the section of the Rules governing the Amateur Radio Service to liberalize the provisions under which Spread Spectrum transmissions are authorized. AMSAT supported the concept of liberalizing the Spread Spectrum rules, but urged that the amateur satellite band segments be protected from possible interference which might result from stations engaging in communication between points on Earth, not involving satellites. At the same time, AMSAT sought provisions which would permit the use of Spread Spectrum transmissions for amateur satellite communication. AMSAT is reviewing other comments filed under this proceeding and expects to file reply comments when they are due June. /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.02 STS-84 MISSION HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-131.02 NASA has set May 15 as the official launch date for space shuttle Atlantis sixth docking with the Russian Mir space station and a trip back home for ham-astronaut Jerry Linenger, KC5HBR. The STS-84 launch window opens at about 4:08 AM EDT on May 15. STS-84 is the sixth in a series of docking missions between the shuttle and Mir and the third involving the exchange of American astronauts. Linenger, a Mir crew member since January 15, will swap places with Michael Foale, KB5UAC, who will spend more than four months on the station before returning to Earth on the STS-86 Atlantis/Mir docking mission in September. Astronaut Wendy Lawrence, KC5KII, will replace Foale in September. Several other hams will be on the STS-84 crew. They include Commander Charles Precourt, KB5YSQ, and Mission Specialists Edward Lu, KC5WKJ, Carlos Noriega, KC5WKK, and Jean-Francois Clervoy, KC5WKG. Late last month, Linenger--more than 100 days into his four-month research mission aboard Mir--conducted his first spacewalk. He was joined by Mir Commander Vasily Tsibliev. It was the first time a US astronaut conducted a spacewalk while wearing a Russian space suit. Dave Larsen, N6CO, reports that Foale has received FCC approval to speak with unlicensed third parties via ham radio during his stay on Mir. Foale also has permission to use the German Space Amateur Funk EXperiment (SAFEX) equipment on Mir in addition to the 2-meter gear. The other STS-84 ham-astronauts also may use the Mir equipment during the docking mission. Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL, at Johnson Space Center, said Foale has promised to keep the packet system on as much as possible. ''He enjoys talking with people and looks forward to experimenting with ham equipment onboard Mir,'' Bordelon said. Jay Apt, N5QWL, shares an office with Foale, and Bordelon says Apt shared his experiences of visiting the Mir station with Foale. ''Mike will be busy the first few weeks onboard Mir, but after that he will be on-the-air,'' Bordelon said. For more information on STS-84 (and pictures of Foale and Linenger), check out NASA's shuttle Web site at http://shuttle.nasa.gov/index.html/. [ANS thanks the ARRL for this news.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.03 STS-84 NOMINAL ORBIT PROFILE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-131.03 The STS-84 Nominal Mission Orbit Profile and State Vectors are now available on the AMSAT Web page: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sarex/vectors.html This file has a text summary of the major orbital events for the STS-84 mission and time-independent TDR/EFG state vectors for each event. The corresponding Keplerian elements can be computed from the vectors (and providing a launch date and time) using VEC2TLE. VEC2TLE Version 9648 is available for download on the AMSAT Web Page: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sarex/orbit.html STS-84 is scheduled for launch on 15-MAY-97 / 08:07:51 UTC. [ANS thanks Ken Ernandes, N2WWD, for this information.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.04 STS-84 COMMUNICATIONS PLAN HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-131.04 UHF will be operated in a manner similar to previous flights with 259.7 MHz being the primary frequency. UHF will be powered off in post-insertion (MET 000/01:35) and back on for L-1 day landing checks, and again for deorbit preparation/entry. VHF Transceiver Pre-Set Frequencies ----------------------------------- CHANNEL XMIT FREQ. (MHz) RCV FREQ. (MHz) USE ------- --------------- -------------- ---------------------------------- 0 none none none 1 121.75 130.1625 Shuttle/Mir 1/2 DUPLEX 2 121.75 121.75 Shuttle/Mir/Soyuz SIMPLEX 3 130.1625 121.75 Shuttle/Soyuz/Joint EVA 1/2 DUPLEX [ANS thanks Keith Stein for this report.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.05 SIMSAT INFO HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-131.05 The Simulated Satellite (SimSat) project in the Greater Washington, D.C. area now has its own mail list and you are invited to join free of charge! For the introduction to SimSat, please see AMSAT News Service Bulletin $ANS-020.02 from AMSAT HQ, Silver Spring, MD, dated January 20, 1997. Or visit the SimSat website at: http://garc.gsfc.nasa.gov/~simsat/index.html TO SUBSCRIBE There are two ways to subscribe to the SimSat mail list. The first (and easiest) is to visit the GSFC Majordomo web site for SimSat and fill out the brief request form. Go to: http://listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/majordomo/info/simsat OR you may send your request: mailto:majordomo@listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov Include as the FIRST LINE of text in the body of your message your own information in the form: subscribe simsat "Terry Smith, H.S. teacher, Hyattsville MD" (Between the quote marks PLEASE include your name, callsign if any, your affiliation and location. The text between the <> brackets is your direct e-mail address. Please avoid giving a remailer address because the automated system will not recognize a post from you.) Note: The text you place on the subject line of your subscribe request is ignored by the machine. It's for your record purposes only. Also, the volume of traffic is relatively low at this time. Nonetheless, one may just as easily unsubscribe at any time. It's all automated. You will receive a reply to your request within 24 hours. TO SEND A MESSAGE To send a message to the list, address your message to simsat@listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov from the e-mail address you used to subscribe. Note: NO message can enter the SimSat mail list except from a subscriber. [ANS thanks Pat Kilroy, WD8LAQ, for this item.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.06 THE STATION PROGRAM LATEST HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-131.06 The Station Program now includes support for the German, French, English & Italian languages, with Spanish & Portuguese under development. Just select your preferred language when you run the program for the first time, you may change your language selection at any time in the Options dialog under the Tools menu. The Station Program is a complete ground-station control program, for Windows 3.1, WFW 3.11 & Windows 95. It provides real-time tracking of satellites, with automatic radio control. Ideal for the OSCAR operator. It was designed especially for users of analog modes (e.g. voice & Morse). It is not the same as WiSP! The software supports the Kansas City Tracker, AEA ST-1, DDE Rotor, TrakBox (Rotor), Icom CI-V radios (via CT-17) & Icom IC-IV (via UX-14/CT-17) interfaces, Yaesu FT-736R, and is great for analog modes, turn the dial and work satellite as easily as HF. Kenwood TS-790 - Coming Soon! The latest version can always be obtained from the AMSAT-BDA web site :- http://www.amsat.bm The Station Program comes on three diskettes, you may download the latest release from the AMSAT-BDA www site. These files are .zip files. You will need three blank formatted 1.44 disks. Unzip each file onto a separate disk, then run setup.exe from disk1. Once installed apply the patches included in the latest StaFix file. Please note that the Station Program requires a registration number to execute, this is available from AMSAT-UK, AMSAT-F, AMSAT-NA & AMSAT-ZL. All proceeds from the sale of registration numbers are donated to the AMSAT Phase 3D Project. If you want to be placed on the Station mailing list, then send a SUBSCRIBE message, along with your real email address to vp9mu@amsat.org. Alias names, such as vp9mu@amsat.org,cannot be used. This list is used to notify users of the availability of upgrades. From time to time, .zip files are attached. If your email system has trouble with attachments then the latest version is always available on the AMSAT-BDA www site. If you want to be removed from the list, then send an UNSUBSCRIBE message to vp9mu@amsat.org. The Station Program Registration Numbers can be obtained from. AMSAT-F 14 bis rue des Gourlis, F-92500 RUEIL-MALMAISON France Fax 33 1 47 51 74 24 AMSAT-NA 850 Sligo Avenue, Suite 600 Silver Spring, MD 20910-4703 USA Phone +1 (301) 589-6062 Fax +1 (301) 608-3410 AMSAT-UK 94 Herongate Road Wanstead Park London E12 5EQ, England Phone: 0181 989 6741 Fax: 0181 989 3430 AMSAT-ZL c/o Jeff Garrett ZL1BIV 20 first View Avenue Beachlands, Auckland, 1705 New Zealand Or email zl1biv@amsat.org. [ANS thanks Paul Willmott for this software news.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-131.07 MIR: (New frequencies implemented 1 January 1997: Uplink 145.2 MHz FM Downlink 145.8 MHz FM) Note, the above split is used for both packet and voice operation. ANS has received information that states that all amateur activity from MIR has been suspended until further notice. SAFEX, MIR 70cm Repeater (Uplink 435.750 MHz FM, Downlink 437.950 MHz FM, Subaudible tone 141.3 Hz) ANS has received information that states that all amateur activity from MIR has been suspended until further notice. RS-10: (Uplink 145.865-145.905 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4 MHz CW/SSB) RS-10 is operational. RS-12: (Uplink 21.21-21.25 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.41-29.45 MHz or 145.91-145.95 Mhz CW/SSB) The downlink on 10m continues to be very strong, with some slow fading noticeable, but still nice strong signals heard and worked from Arizona and Puerto Rico into northern NJ. [ANS thanks Dick Montgomery, N3DV, for this update.] RS-15 (Uplink 145.858-145.898 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.354-29.394 MHz 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!) RS-16 RS-16's 70 cm, 435.504 Mhz beacon on RS-16 operational. RS16 had no beacons active on 10 meters ,2 meters . [ANS thanks Kip Pettersson, SM1TDX, for this report.] FO-20 (Uplink 145.9-146.0 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9 MHz CW/USB) Operating normally. Strong downlink signal. KO-23 (Uplink 145.85, 145.9 MHz FM, Downlink 435.175 MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK.) KO-23 operating normally. . KO-25: (Uplink 145.980 MHz FM, Downlink 436.5 MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK.) KO-25 operating normally. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for his reports on KO-25 and KO-23.] AO-27: (Uplink 145.85 MHz FM, Downlink: 436.792 MHz FM (As of April 1, 1997) Operating normally. The satellite continuous working excellently over. Current AO-27 schedule information can be found at www.umbra.com Tepr 4 = 32 counts 16 Minutes Tepr 5 = 66 counts 18 Minutes AO-27 Will turn on Every pass 16 Minutes after entering the sun and will stay on for 18 minutes. This corrects the early shut off that has been going on for the passed few weeks. Northern Stations will see the satellite turn on after AOS for the next week or so. This is due to the TEPR states being calculated for a while from now instead of Today. So the schedule will be drifting into a better state. This gives us a longing time before the schedule gets out of whack. Thanks goes out to the Alternate Control Station KM4NZ/N1XAU for the use of their station via the Internet for Controlling the satellite. With new software that lets me control the satellite at remote sights, He hopes to be able to keep the TEPR Schedule more up to date. [ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control-op, and Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this update.] FO-29 Voice/CW (Uplink 145.9-146.0 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9 MHz CW/USB) Digital (Uplink 145.85, 145.87, 145.910 MHz FM, Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK) The latest FO-29 Schedule can be found at. http://www.kt.rim.or.jp/~jr1nvu/eindex.html May 9(Fri) 00:57z(09:57) JD 9600bps 16(Fri) 01:35z(10:35) JA 23(Fri) 00:29z(09:29) JD 1200bps 30(Fri) 01:07z(10:07) JD 9600bps [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-131.08 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 131.08 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-131.08 AO-10: (Uplink 435.030-435.18 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 145.975-145.825 MHz CW/USB) OZ1MY/Ib reports AO-10 has been FM'ing over the past few days. Stacey Mills, W4SM, reports that the chances of damaging AO-10 by uplinking during "FM'ing" are probably remote. The caution mainly stems from a theoretical consideration. AO-10's latching relays are set to the omni antenna and the transponder is on in Mode-B configuration. This all turns out to be perfect since we can't control the attitude, etc. Each time there's a power spike the chance exists that the IHU could have a "seizure" and blurt out a pulse to switch the antennas to higain, switch the transponder off or whatever. Of course these spikes occur every time we come out of eclipse, but the idea is to do what we can to minimize the number of power spikes. Occasionally spikes have "activated" the IHU in the past and caused the beacon to send out nonsensical data rather than the current constant carrier for short periods of time. ..and it isn't clear when AO-10 switched to the omni antenna, [ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM, for this report.] OSCAR-11 (Downlink 145.825 MHz. FM, 1200 Baud PSK. Beacon 2401.500 MHz..) Operating normally. [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information.] AMSAT-OSCAR-16 (PACSAT) (Uplink 145.9, 145.92, 145.94, 145.86 MHz FM, Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK. Beacon 2401.1428 Mhz.) Russ Platt WJ9F, AO-16 Command Team , reports the digipeater on AO-16 has been on for the last couple of months. In regards to the 2.4 GHz transmitter, it does continue to work although WJ9F has not been leaving it on for an entire orbit due to its high current load on the 10 v bus. The battery charging scheme on the micros is managed during sunlight by adjusting the RCPSK transmitter power up or down to charge and not overcharge the batteries since we have no way to turn the solar cells off. The S-band transmitter does not have the ability to vary its output so it is a high current draw throughout the orbit. In the past during Experimenters Days when we have turned on the S-Band transmitter I had to scale back the output of the RCPSK transmitter to levels that were difficult to receive and even with these low levels the onboard software will still turn off the S-band TX if the Battery voltage drops too low, which it did.. [ANS thanks Russ Platt WJ9F, AO-16 Command Team for this report.] Typical Telemetry Status of Temperature: uptime is 965/06:27:23. Time is Sat May 10 11:51:54 1997 +X (RX) Temp 1.814 D RX Temp -7.868 D Bat 1 Temp 0.603 D Bat 2 Temp 1.209 D BasepltTemp 1.209 D RC PSK BP Temp 3.629 D RC PSK HPATmp 4.839 D +Y ArrayTemp -0.002 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 2.419 D +Z Array Temp 11.495 D Total Array C= 0.309 Bat Ch Cur=-0.060 Ifb= 0.072 I+10V= 0.317 TX:010C BCR:80 PWRC:5AE BT:3C WC:25 EDAC:3E Graphic information about WOD/Telemetry values can be found at: http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/ao16.htm [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] DO-17(DOVE) ( Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK. Beacon 2401.220 MHz.) DOVE apparently crashed late last week (about April 24). Cause of crash is unknown at this time. WJ9F turned on the S-band transmitter about May 1 0500U and has started the reload process. .[ANS thanks Jim white, WD0E, DO-17 Command Team, for this news.] WEBERSAT (WO-18) (Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25.) Webersat (WO-18) is currently in MBL mode after a system crash. The satellite appears to be in good condition broadcasting MBL telemetry. BCRi316.43mA bplt 1.340C TxPw 0.231W 5 V 5.742V 8.5V10.008V 10V 14.036V [ANS thanks Tommy Davis, IK3WVJ, for this report.] LUSAT-OSCAR-19 (Uplink 1200 bps Manchester FSK Uplinks: 145.84, 145.86, 145.88, 145.9 MHz FM, Downlink 437.1528 MHz SSB, 1200 bps RC-BPSK.) Typical Telemetry Status of Temperature: uptime is 689/22:16:32. Time is Sat May 10 12:21:42 1997 +X (RX) Temp 0.131 D RX Temp -1.552 D Bat 1 Temp -0.991 D Bat 2 Temp -0.430 D Baseplt Temp 0.131 D RC PSK BPTemp -0.430 D RC PSK HPATmp 0.131 D +Y ArrayTemp 1.252 D PSK TX HPATmp -1.552 D +Z Array Temp 2.374 D LU BcnTemp A -2.113 D LU Bcn Temp D -2.113 D Total Array C= 0.234 Bat Ch Cur= 0.035 Ifb= 0.037 I+10V= 0.165 TX:019 BCR:81 PWRC:36E BT:3C WC: 0 Graphic and general information about Telemetry values can be found at: http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/lo19.htm [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] IO-26 ( ITAMSAT): (Uplink 145.875, 145.9, 145.925, 145.95MHz FM, Downlink 435.822 MHz 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.] [Please send your Satellite or News reports to ANS Editor B.J. Arts, WT0N, via e-mail, at bjarts@the-bridge.net or to wt0n@amsat.org] /EX