SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0208 * SpaceNews 08-Feb-99 * BID: $SPC0208 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY FEBRUARY 8, 1999 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use. * ARISS NEWS * ============== A series of extremely successful International Space Station (ISS) Amateur Radio accommodation meetings were held at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston from January 22-27. These pivotal meetings were sponsored by NASA and by Energia, the Russian space company that is building portions of ISS. The primary objectives of these meetings were to finalize the design development of the "Initial Station" amateur radio hardware for ISS and to develop a more effective understanding and advocacy of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program within NASA and Energia. In addition to representatives from NASA and Energia, the ARISS "Initial Station" hardware development teams from the US, Russia, Germany and Italy were invited to participate in the meetings. The Initial Station design, solidified during the July 1998 ARISS meeting in Surrey, England, consists of 2 meter and 70 cm handheld transceivers, a packet radio system and power supplies, provided by the US team, a Digitalker, provided by the German team, antenna feedthroughs and power and space accommodations provided by the Russian team and the development of an antenna system which is led by the Italian delegation. NASA will be providing a Space Shuttle launch to transport the Initial Station hardware to the ISS and has financially supported the flight qualification of the Initial Station Hardware. Some of the testing required by NASA and Energia to flight qualify this hardware includes the development of a safety analysis package, hardware performance testing, ISS interface testing, electromagnetic interference testing, and toxic chemical offgassing testing. Both NASA and Energia are intimately involved in the external outfitting of the planned antennas systems through special astronaut spacewalks or EVAs. The following ARISS team members from various IARU and AMSAT organizations were invited to attend and participate in these meetings: Sergej Samburov, RV3DR, Representing Energia, AMSAT-Russia and ARISS-Russia Ron Parise, WA4SIR, Representing the ARISS-US Hardware Delegation Lou McFadin, W5DID, Representing the ARISS-US Hardware Delegation Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, Representing NASA, AMSAT-NA, and ARISS-US Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL, Representing NASA and ARISS-US Thomas Kieselbach, DL2MDE, Representing the ARISS-German Hardware Delegation Alberto Zagni, I2KBD, Representing the ARISS-Italian Hardware Delegation Fabrizio Bernardini, I0QIT, Representing the ARISS-Italian Hardware Delegation Luca Bertagnolio, IK2OVV, Representing the ARISS-Italian Hardware Delegation During the meeting, Sergej Samburov, RV3DR, the President of AMSAT-Russia in Moscow and the Chief of the Cosmonaut Amateur Radio Department at Energia, confirmed that 4 dual-use antenna feedthroughs have been installed on the Russian Service Module. These dual-use feedthroughs are expected to support amateur radio operations and ISS proximity video capability during Russian and US spacewalks. He also confirmed his strong desire to work with the ARISS international partners to develop a single, coordinated amateur radio station on ISS. Key NASA official stated that they, too, need a single, international focal point to coordinate amateur radio development and operations on ISS if amateur radio on ISS is to have a future. During the meeting, these NASA officials were extremely pleased with the high level of flight hardware expertise and on-orbit operations knowledge that the ARISS international partners are providing to NASA and Energia. The ARISS international team was formed over two years ago to provide this single focal point to the space officials at NASA (US), Energia (Russia), NASDA (Japan) and ESA (Europe). Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT-NA's Vice President for Human Spaceflight Programs, commented, "I was extremely impressed with the tremendous teamwork, camaraderie and cooperation that the ARISS International Partners exhibited during these pivotal meetings with NASA and Energia. Together we share a common vision to develop and operate a multifaceted amateur radio station on ISS that will be a great recreational outlet for the on-orbit crews, an exciting DXpedition station for hams on the ground and an outstanding educational outreach tool for students." In the near future, additional information from these meetings will be provided including discussions on: ARISS Initial Configuration & Delivery Schedule to ISS Antenna System Design Antenna Locations on Service Module and initial plans for ARISS EVAs Meetings with NASA Senior Managers Digitalker design ARISS Frequencies Future installation of an SSTV system Express Pallet opportunities The ARISS hardware team discussed and reaffirmed their long planned commitment to solicit proposals from the amateur radio community to develop follow-on amateur radio hardware for ISS. Proposals chosen to proceed forward would then be coordinated through a NASA/Energia employee-based radio working group that would negotiate power, volume and operations scenarios for the proposed equipment. The ARISS international team is composed of representatives from the IARU and AMSAT societies in Russia, Italy, Germany, England, France, Canada, Japan and the US. The Space Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) Working Group provides the US hardware and administrative representation to the ARISS international team. Within the US, they coordinate the US hardware development, operations and educational outreach activities for the ARRL, AMSAT-NA and NASA. [Info via Frank Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS-US Delegation] * SUNSAT/ARGOS/ORSTED LAUNCH NEWS * =================================== Following an investigation into the 1999-Jan-28 engine shutdown of a Delta II during a launch attempt of the ARGOS satellite, the Boeing launch team determined that a propellant valve on vernier engine number two failed to open on command. This caused the engine shutdown and initiation of the autosafe mechanism on the launch vehicle. The valves on both vernier engines have been removed and replaced and the launch team is preparing for a 1999-Feb-07 launch attempt. The 30-minute launch window opens at 2:39 a.m. PST (1039 UTC). The first stage of a Delta II has a main engine and two vernier engines. Vernier engines are small rocket motors that allow the vehicle to be steered during flight. During the engine start sequence, the two vernier engines are required to ignite prior to ignition of the main engine. The main engine and two vernier engines were automatically shut down at approximately T-0 when it was detected that one of the vernier engines had failed to ignite. All vehicle safing systems performed as designed and expected. The ARGOS launch has two NASA-sponsored secondary payloads, Orsted and SUNSAT. These scientific satellites will be the first launched by Denmark and South Africa, respectively. There was no impact to any of the spacecraft systems as a result of the on-pad abort of the launch. There will be a live broadcast of the launch beginning at 2:30 a.m. PST through spacecraft separation on: GE 2C, transponder 6, located at 85 degrees west, uplink frequency 6045 MHz (vertical), downlink frequency 3820 MHz (horizontal). [Info via Brian Webb, KD6NRP] * SKN 1999 RESULTS * ==================== AMSAT-NA's 27th annual Straight Key Night on OSCAR, held 1 January 1999, was quite a success, with lots of fun had by all. Here is this year's list of Best Fist winners. Each amateur listed received one or more nominations: G3RWL, KB1SF, K7RR, K9CIS, NM1K, N0IBT, OK2AQK, W3JIM. Our thanks to all who took part. We hope you're able to join us for the 28th annual event on 1 January 2000. Please be sure, though, to run your orbital predictions beforehand. We hope the Y2K bug doesn't strike your computer, but even if it does, there's always the old reliable straight key! [Info via Ray Soifer, W2RS] * THANKS! * =========== Thansk to all who recently sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews, especially: LX2JD KB4NVD KC4ZGP PA5UL * 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