SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0407 * SpaceNews 04-Apr-97 * BID: $SPC0407 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY APRIL 7, 1997 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use. * THE STORY BEHIND MEXICO-OSCAR-30 * ==================================== Dr. Tom Clark, W3IWI has cleared much confusion regarding the status of the MEXICO-OSCAR-30 satellite launched last year. The satellite with the 40 MHz meteor RADAR was built at UNAM (The Autonomous University of Mexico) in Mexico City by XE1TU and his students. The basic spacecraft was of the same design as the other AMSAT Microsats, including LUSAT, DOVE, WEBERSAT, ITAMSAT and EYESAT. Many will recall that the first UNAMSAT was destroyed (along with the Israeli TECHSAT satellite) when the Russian START launch vehicle exploded shortly after the launch from Plesetsk. A new UNAMSAT satellite, which later became known as MEXICO-OSCAR-30, was built from spare parts and launched late last summer on a different launch vehicle also from Plesetsk. The satellite successfully reached orbit and transmitted telemetry for about one day. The weather at the launch pad the day MO-30 reached orbit was very cold. The satellite separated from the launcher at a temperature of about -30 C. It is believed that the frigid temperatures prevented the first local oscillator of the satellite's uplink receiver from oscillating, rendering the satellite totally deaf. With no functioning uplink receiver, battery charging parameters suitable for the unanticipated cold temperature could not be loaded, and the satellite ran out of power. Later attempts to revive MEXICO-OSCAR-30 have been unsuccessful. [Info via Dr. Tom Clark, W3IWI] * AO-27 NEWS * ============== As of March 30, 1997: 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 past few weeks. Northern stations will see the satellite turn on after AOS for the next week or so. The schedule will be drifting into a better state over time. 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 allows control of the satellite from remote sights, Michale, N4USI hopes to be able to keep the TEPR schedule more up to date. [Info via Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control Operator] * AO-10 ORBITAL DATA * ====================== Ken Ernandes, N2WWD, has reported that the Space Command has published a new Kepleriann data set for AO-10. They are as follows: AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 97086.09215926 -.00000160 00000-0 10000-3 0 4644 2 14129 25.6368 156.5618 6073912 102.9697 328.9901 2.05881543 75687 Ken reports that this element set compares favorably with the estimated set (epoch 97054.5) with the exception of about a 0.6 degree shift in orbital plane. * FO-29 DIGITALKER ACTIVE * =========================== The JARL FO-29 command station has announced that FO-29 will be placed in Digitalker mode between April 4th and 7th. [Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK] * RS-16 NEWS * ============== RS-16 was launched as part of a compound satellite package called "Zeya" named after the launch site at the Svobodny Cosmodrome by the banks of the Zeya river in the Far East by the Chinese border. Being that this was the first launch from this launch site, no expensive satellites were launched. RS-16, however, was an ideal candidate for the maiden launch. In addition to the RS-16 package, the Zeya spacecraft consists of an experimental navigation system of the GLONAS/GPS "Terminator" series, a number of experimental reflectors, solar panels and batteries. RS-16 has high speed telemetry as well as Morse CW, but it is proving difficult to copy due to the tumbling and toppling QSB of the satellite. In fact, amateur radio operators are doing somewhat better than officials who need the telemetry for their own readings, but who have receivers rather less sensitive than the amateurs. There are just two of the RS group working at the Ground Control Center near Moscow (the same as the GCC for RS-14/AO-21), these being Alex Papkov RA3XBU and Victor Samkov. There is no amateur command station as such, but Alex and Victor are working with the military and factory staff in checking the facilities, antenna, equipment etc., and planning for various scientific programs. Leo, UA3CR, suspects spurious signals +/- 30 kHz either side of the beacon, but thinks it may be due to overload from strong local QRM at his QTH. He asks that amateurs look for them. Leo reported that RS-16 is undergoing testing now, the duration of which may take two or more months. It is believed the Mode A transponder will be switched on after testing is complete. [Info from Leo, UA3CR via Pat, G3IOR] * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * =========================== Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below: WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/ PACKET : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, LUSAT-OSCAR-19 <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> /EX