SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0126 * SpaceNews 26-Jan-98 * BID: $SPC0126 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY JANUARY 26, 1998 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use. * InfoEspace NEWS * =================== Mike, VE2TRV, has made some adjustments to the Laval Laurentides ARC Web site, so InfoEspace, the French translation of SpaceNews, has been moved to its own subdirectory. The number of files in the /ve2crl directory was becoming too large to manage efficiently. The latest edition of InfoEspace is now at the following URL: http://pages.infinit.net/ve2crl/infoesp/space.htm Work is currently underway to have archives of InfoEspace available at the site. The download page will be accessible via a link on the main InfoEspace page, and the files will be compressed using PKZIP. The changes should be completed by the end of January. InfoEspace is in its fourth year of publication, serving French-speaking amateur space fans since mid-1994. [Info via Mike Detaille, VE2TRV] * FUJI-OSCAR-29 NEWS * ====================== A memory error was detected in the onboard computer system of the FUJI-3 (FO-29) satellite. Restarting and software reloading is currently being carried out, but the process is taking a long time due to poor uplink efficiency. The operating schedule previously announced for FO-29 has been cancelled. The satellite will remain in analog mode (Mode JA) continuously untuil further notice. A new operating schedule is expected to be announced shortly. [Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK] * AMSAT-OSCAR-10 WOBBLE * ========================= Recent observations suggest that the AMSAT-OSCAR-10 satellite is no longer stable in its Z-axis (the normal axis of spin), and is slowly tumbling or "wobbling" in orbit. The satellite is currently going through several deep periods of signal fading with a measured cycle of 15 to 20 minutes, and this condition will make it difficult, if not impossible, for spacecraft controllers to accurately predict AO-10's functional status over long periods of time. If the present trend continues, AMSAT-OSCAR-10 will simply continue to show periods of slow signal fading followed by periods of rather strong signals over a cycle of multiple minutes as a result of the Z-axis wobble. [Info via Stacey Mills, W4SM] * TEACHER SELECTED FOR ASTRONAUT CORPS * ======================================== NASA has selected Barbara Morgan, an elementary school teacher from McCall, ID, to join the next astronaut candidate class as a mission specialist, and she has accepted. In a decision that re-emphasizes the importance of NASA's strong commitment to education and its unique position to advance the Nation's goals to improve science, mathematics, and technology education, the Agency has determined that it is appropriate to include educator mission specialists in the astronaut corps. In addition to meeting the astronaut selection requirements, mission specialists with education and teaching backgrounds in science, mathematics and technology will be selected and trained in the astronaut corps. These mission specialists will carry out educational programs in addition to their other assigned flight duties. [Info via NASA] * MIR AMATEUR RADIO STATUS * ============================ The Sputnik-40 Amateur Radio Satellite went silent around December 30, 1997. The satellites batteries lasted 4 weeks longer than expected. Overall, the project was a complete success. It generated lots of interest in space and satellites around the world. School children everywhere were tuning their radios to listen for the beep, beep, beep of Sputnik-40. Congratulations go to everyone involved in the Sputnik project. Those fortunate enough to hear the signal from Sputnik before it went silent can send away for a SWL (Short Wave Listener) card from one of two addresses. Listeners who heard the satellite on more than one occasion should only send away for ONE (1) card. In an earlier report, an incorrect zip code and old city name name were included in a QSL address. The good news is that people who used the old address do not have to worry. Most of the cards addressed to the old address are being delivered to the correct address. Include with your card the date and UTC time the signal from Sputnik-40 was copied. Envelopes should be well sealed and not include cash. Send an SAE (Self Addressed Envelope) and one or two IRC coupons (which can be purchased at major US post offices) with your request. Do not make any notes on the out side of the envelope with Amateur Radio call signs visible. Dave Larsen, MIREX / N6CO is not handling SWL cards for Sputnik. Please use the address below. QSL Information for SWL (Short Wave Listener) Sergej Samburov PO Box 73 Korolev-10 City Moscow Area, 141070, Russia There is another address that can be used to receiver confirmation of Sputnik-40 reception is the FR5KJ radio club: FR5KJ radio club College Jules Reydellet 103 rue de la Republique 97 489 Saint Denis Cedex Reunion Island. The Mir crew is expected to be very busy for the next two months. The 2-meter packet radio station was temporarily moved from the core module of Mir and installed in the Priroda Module. This move was performed to take advantage of the backup dual-band antenna shared with the SAFEX II repeater. The crew also installed a TNC recently, but due to the crew's heavy work load, the TNC parameters have not been properly configured. Mirex would like stations monitoring the PMS to please be patient while adjustments are made. The PMS is NOT fully operational at this time. MIREX has created an Internet Web page containing information regarding Mir and the various Amateur Radio experiments taking place from the space station. The pages are still "under construction", but some good information can be gathered from what has been put together so far. URLs include the following: http://www.ik1sld.org/mirex.htm OR http://www.ik1sld.org/mirex http://www.geocities.com/~ik1sld/mirex.htm OR http://www.geocities.com/~ik1sld/mirex [Info via Miles, WF1F] * 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! -=>> <<=- Serving the planet for 10 years -=>> /EX