SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC1222 * SpaceNews 22-Dec-97 * BID: $SPC1222 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY DECEMBER 22, 1997 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use. * OSCAR-11 NEWS * ================= During the period 16-Nov-97 to 15-Dec-97, UoSAT-OSCAR-11 has continued to provide good signals on its 145.826 MHz beacon, although some interference has occured from DOVE and Sputnik-40, which also transmit near this frequency. Two reports have been received about the Mode-S beacon. Carl, WA7PIB reports reception at levels 3-4 S units above the noise, compard with DOVE's 8-9. A station in Sweden also reports the beacon at 8 dB above the noise. Satellite telemetry continues to be nominal. Internal temperatures have continued to fall, and at the present time are 8.8C and 6.4C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. This fall in temperature is due to increasing in solar eclipse times, which are expected to reach a maximum in early February. Two WOD surveys have been transmitted during the reporting period. Both are of Channels 10, 20, 30, 40 ( +Y, -X, +X array currents, array voltage). The previous WOD dated 29-Oct-97 continued until it was replaced by a survey dated 14-Dec-97. These show the effect of solar eclipses on array currents and voltage. The new format AMSAT-UK bulletin, No. 114 is now being transmitted by the spacecraft. It contains details of amateur satellite frequencies and modes of operation. It may be changed at monthly intervals. The operating schedule remains unchanged: ASCII status (210 seconds) ASCII bulletin (60 seconds) BINARY SEU (30 seconds) ASCII TLM (90 seconds) ASCII WOD (120 seconds) ASCII bulletin (60 seconds) BINARY ENG (30 seconds) There are also additional status blocks after each bulletin is transmitted, and between ASCII TLM and WOD. The Mode-S beacon is ON transmitting an unmodulated carrier, but telemetry indicates that it has partially failed, and is delivering only half power. This beacon is a useful test source for those testing Mode-S converters prior to the launch of P3-D. It is considerably weaker than DOVE, which should be used for initial testing. Reports of reception of the 2401 MHz Mode-S beacon would be most welcome, and should be directed to Clive Wallis at : g3cwv@amsat.org. The 435.025 MHz beacon is normally OFF. However, it can sometimes be heard when the satellite is being commanded by ground control (ie. within range of Guildford, UK). When the 435 MHz UHF beacon is transmitting, the 145 MHz VHF beacon is normally OFF. The data transmitted is mainly binary. OSCAR-11 users are welcome to visit an OSCAR-11 web site created by Clive Wallis, G3CWV. It contains some software for capturing data and decoding ASCII telemetry and WOD. There is an archive of raw data (mainly WOD) for analysis, which is continually being expanded as new data is captured. The URL is: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ [Info via Clive Wallis, G3CWV] * NEW SPUTNIK-40 QSL ADDRESS * ============================== A change has been made to a previously published QSL address for the Sputnik-40/RS-17 satellite. The revised address is as follows: Sergej Samburov PO Box 73 Korolev-10 City Moscow Area, 141070, Russia Note that the zip code and the city name have changed. Envelopes sent to this address should be well sealed, not include cash or display amateur radio callsigns. A self-addressed envelope and an IRC or two should be included with your reception report to insure a QSL card will be returned. [Info via Miles Mann, WF1F] * MIR NEWS * ============ The Mir space station is currently making visible passes just after sunset along the east coast of the US. These passes will continue for the first part of the week. The next opportunity to witness visible passes of Mir in the evening sky will not occur again until the last few days of January 1998. The next US Space Shuttle mission is expected to dock with Mir around that time, so it may be possible to witness both Mir and the Space Shuttle in the evening sky in late January. The Mir crews have two space walks planned shortly. The first walk is expected around 29-Dec-97, and the second approximately 10 days later. Reports of Mir being active on packet radio (145.985 MHz) continue to be received. It is not clear when or if the latest Mir frequency experiment, which was planned to begin on 01-Dec-97, will ever come about. * AMSAT-UK CALL FOR PAPERS * ============================ The thirteenth AMSAT-UK Colloquium will be held at Surrey University, Guildford, Surrey, U.K., from Friday 31-Jul-98 to Sunday 02-Aug-98. Next year's event will include technical and operational matters as well as an IARU forum. AMSAT-UK invites authors to submit papers about amateur radio space and associated activities for this event, and for the "Proceedings" document which will be published at the same time. Colloquium organizers normally prefer authors to present the papers themselves rather than having someone else read them in the authors' absence, but also welcome "unpresented" papers for the document. Offers of Papers should be submitted as soon as possible; the final date for full documents is mid-June 1998 in order that the "Proceedings" document be available to participants. A second and final call for papers will issue about March 1998, probably at the same time as Colloquium booking information becomes available. Submissions should be sent to Richard W. L. Limebear, G3RWL via the following routes: Internet e-mail: g3rwl@amsat.org Packet Radio: G3RWL @ GB7HSN.#32.GBR.EU Satellite: AO16/19/22/23/25 Terrestrial mail: Richard W. L. Limebear, G3RWL 60 Willow Road Enfield EN1 3NQ United Kingdom AMSAT-UK also invites anyone with requests for Program Topics to submit them as soon as possible to G3RWL. [Info via Richard W. L. Limebear, G3RWL] * SEASON'S GREETINGS * ====================== All the best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season! de John, KD2BD * 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, KITSAT-OSCAR-25 <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> /EX