SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0306
* SpaceNews 06-Mar-00 *

BID: $SPC0306


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			       SpaceNews
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		 	 MONDAY MARCH 6, 2000


* OSCAR SKN 2000 *
==================
Although many Amateur Radio operators welcomed the year 2000 with
anticipation, several satellite enthusiasts did take part in the Y2K
edition of Straight Key Night on OSCAR, a long time AMSAT tradition.
"The activity level seemed down a bit this year," said AMSAT's Ray Soifer,
W2RS, "but we all had fun."  W2RS added that he would like to thank all
the stations worldwide who did take part in the annual event.

There were five 'Best Fist' winners this year -- Thomas Hart, AD1B,
Russell Hack, NM1K, Al Tribble, W3STW, George Brien, N4ZQ and Frank
Wiesenmeyer, K9CIS.  Congratulations to all!

Ray reminds all satellite operator's to mark their calendars for the 29th
edition of SKN, noting that next year, "hopefully SKN will take place on
Phase 3D!"

[Info via the AMSAT-NA News Service]


* FUJI-OSCAR-29 NEWS *
======================
The following is the latest FO-29 operating schedule as issued by the
JARL:

March 6  (Mon) - March 10 (Fri) : JD1200
March 11 (Sat) - March 20 (Mon) : JA
March 21 (Tue) - March 24 (Fri) : JD1200
March 25 (Sat) - April 2  (Sun) : JA

[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]


* MIR LAUNCH SCHEDULED *
========================
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will launch a new mission to the aging Mir space
station on April 3, three days later than originally planned, a spokeswoman
for Mission Control said on March 3rd.

The spokeswoman said the delay was for technical reasons and the original
March 31 date was only a rough guideline which allowed for schedule changes
for Soyuz spacecraft launch.

Earlier on the third, Itar-Tass news agency quoted a spokesman at a space
training center outside Moscow known as Star City as saying the launch had
been postponed due to technical reasons.  He gave no further details.

Mir was due to be scuttled this year but got a new lease of life when foreign
investors agreed to pay $20 million to fund further missions on the craft,
which is currently unmanned.

Russia's Western space partners have been worried that plans to prolong
the life of Mir could divert Russia's scarce funds from a $60 billion
project to build an International Space Station.

Acting President Vladimir Putin urged the government on March 2nd to find
funds to preserve Mir without sacrificing Russia's role in the International
Space Station project.

Russian-built living quarters for the International Space Station, grouping
the United States, the European Union and Japan, are due to take off from
Russia's cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan later this year.

[Info via Roy Neal, K6DUE]


* 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/
MAIL:       John A. Magliacane, KD2BD
            Department of Engineering and Technology
            Brookdale Community College
            765 Newman Springs Road
            Lincroft, New Jersey 07738
	    U.S.A.
PACKET:     KD2BD @ N2TDU.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET:   kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net
SATELLITE:  AMSAT-OSCAR-16, KITSAT-OSCAR-25


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/EX