SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC1207 * SpaceNews 07-Dec-98 * BID: $SPC1207 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY DECEMBER 7, 1998 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use. * RS-18 NEWS * ============== RS-18 QSL cards may be obtained by sending a reception report along with a a self addressed envelope and two IRCs (International Reply Coupons) to the following address: AMSAT-France RS-18 QSL Manager 14 bis, rue des Gourlis 92500 Rueil-Malmaison France A list of QSLs received by the French QSL manager is available at the following URL (Note: The list changes daily as cards are received): http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ascerland/sp41QSL.htm RS-18 may be received on a downlink frequency of 145.812 MHz FM. [Info via Jean-Louis Rault G/F6AGR and Gerard Auvray, F6FAO] * AMSAT-OSCAR-10 NEWS * ======================= As many satellite enthuiasts are aware, AO-10 is functioning rather well these days with the exception of the long-standing QSB problem. Here are some updated Keplerian elements based on recent ranging data: Satellite: AO-10 Catalog number: 14129 Epoch time: 98334.41402 Inclination: 26.8570 deg RA of node: 56.2190 deg Eccentricity: 0.59993 Arg of perigee: 269.7500 deg Mean anomaly: 218.2590 deg Mean motion: 2.05837914 rev/day Decay rate: 0.00 rev/day^2 AO-10 1 14129U 98334.41402000 0.00000000 00000-0 0 7 2 14129 26.8570 56.2190 5999300 269.7500 218.2590 2.05837914 00 Also note that the satellite is in darkness after perigee on every orbit. Perigee is now at the lowest point of orbital latitude (ArgP = 270). This gives the satellite track on a "rectangular" (Mercator) map projection a distinctly symmetrical pattern. [Info via Stacey Mills, W4SM] * SEDSAT-1 NEWS * ================= Dennis Ray Wingo thanks everyone who has monitored the SEDSAT-1 satellite and has sent telemetry reports to the satellite's groundstation controllers in an effort to diagnose the problems with the satellite. Dennis reports that we may be nearing the end of the efforts to recover the bird. He has determined that one of the two Mode L receivers on board the satellite was non-functional when it was launched. This was due to the removal of a part during final integration of the bird due to a fit problem. Dennis feels that there is a strong possibility that this was the main receiver. The second receiver, even if it is working, may be useless. As is well known, there are several receivers on most of the UoSAT satellites. SEDSAT's communication section is designed in exactly the same manner. As it turns out, that part of the initialization sequence was not implemented for the second receiver by the UAH team for unknown reasons. There is a possibility, that controllers may be able to get around this problem, but it will require some very close coordiation with the beginning of the operating period after the satellite comes out of its safe mode. As Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL has correctly pointed out, SEDSAT "live" time is increasing. It is Dennis' theory that this is due to the day/night cycle ratio increasing. If the bird gets to a 80/20 day/night ratio, the bird will go power positive until that ratio drops below about 78/22. The 80/20 ratio is possible. Dennis will drop the bird into STK and figure out when this will be. Despite the problems being experienced with the satellite, controllers are at least getting some very good engineering telemetry from the bird that is giving the folks at NASA some data with which to evaluate the Nickel Metal Hydride batteries on-board the satellite. Those who are copying data from the satellite are asked to please continue doing so. It is very important and controllers may be able to figure out a way to get around some of the known problems with the uplink receiver. There are still a couple of other things that the SEDSAT controllers would like to try, but since they have the best teams in the world in satellite operations in Jim White, Tim Cunningham, Graham Radcliff and others trying their best to recover the satellite, the hope of recovering the bird is dimming. [Info via Dennis Ray Wingo, KD4ETA] * TMSAT NEWS * ============== Colin, VK5HI, has uploaded version 1.08 of his "CCD Display 97" program to the UO-22 (file 69c0f), KO-23 (file 2d5f6), and KO-25 (file 11de4) satellites. This version permits the display of images captured by TMSAT-1 earth imaging cameras, and offers four improvements: 1. Provides the correct viewing of thumbnails 2. Permits image enhancement on TM00xx00.IMI (350k) files 3. Allows previewing of .ACT files 4. Offers inclusion of embryo help files. This program operates under Windows 95/98 only. [Info via Colin VK5HI via TMSAT-1] * SpaceNews NEWS * ================== Those reading the 1998-Nov-23 issue of SpaceNews either via satellite or via the Internet may have noticed a short packet radio distrbution test message included with the issue. The purpose of the test message was to automatically send an acknowledgement back to the author via the packet radio network in an effort to see how effective and widespread the packet radio distribution of SpaceNews really is. A total of 22 responses were eventually received showing SpaceNews entering the amateur packet radio network due to the efforts of the following: HS0AC - Bangkok, China F6BVP - France SP1KKD - Poland KT0H - NE Colorado, USA W4DPH - Tampa, Florida, USA KP4IG - Puerto Rico KS4HR - Howell, NJ, USA XQ2FOD - Chile UA1ALL - Russia N4XEO - Florida EA1BCU - Spain GB7KLY - Great Britian UA9CIR - Russia N2BQF - Long Island, NY, USA GB7DLI - Great Britian NC8Q - Ohio, USA WB5EKW - Texas, USA CX3ACS - Uruguay OH4SAT - Finland LU2MGQ - Argentina ZL2TZE - New Zealand SV1IW - Greece It's nice to see that despite the popularity of the Internet, the packet radio network is still alive and well. Thanks to all who help to distribute SpaceNews bulletins by uploading them to their local packet radio BBSs. * 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, KITSAT-OSCAR-25 <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> <<=- Serving the planet (and beyond) since 1987 -=>> /EX