SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0807 * SpaceNews 07-Aug-00 * BID: $SPC0807 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY AUGUST 7, 2000 * ARISS NEWS * ============== The primary amateur radio antenna ports on the International Space Station were delivered to ISS with the launch and docking of the Service Module two weeks ago. With the docking of the Service Module now complete, the next phase in the development and installation of the ham radio gear on ISS is the launch and installation of the Initial, Phase 1 amateur radio station. This is expected to occur on the next Shuttle Flight, STS-106, currently scheduled for launch in early September. The initial station will include 2 meter and 70 cm Ericsson handheld transceivers (5-6 watts output), a Paccom pico-packet TNC, a specially developed David Clark headset, a signal adapter module, specially developed radio power adapters, and the interconnecting cabling. The antenna systems that the Italian/Russian/US team have developed for the Service Module are ready but cannot be installed (by EVA) until later next year. In the meantime, the ARISS international team has gotten permission to use the Zarya (FGB) Sirius antennas on the 2 meter band. Last week, in particular, was a tremendous week for the ARISS program. ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) team members have been working for years to bring the first ISS hardware to fruition. It looks like the final issues that have held them back are now over. They are moving ahead toward the launch of the initial hardware on STS-106 and its stowage in the FGB. STS-106 is currently scheduled for launch on September 8. The first crew will arrive around October 30. Once on-board, they will connect the hardware to the Sirius antenna and set up the station in the FGB. The first (Expedition 1) crew will be launched on Soyuz and dock with the ISS. This has been an effort that has required a significant amount of patience, persistence and hard work by all the ARISS team members and the space agencies all over the world. The events that occurred in recent weeks include: 1) The previously stated launch and docking of the Service Module which will eventually house the ARISS station. 2) The successful completion of a series of tests in Moscow. It should be noted that Lou McFadin, W5DID, from AMSAT-NA, Carolynn Conley, KD5JSO, from NASA, and Sergej Samburov, RV3DR, from AMSAT-RU were instrumental in making these successful tests happen. These tests included RF and power-up tests in the flight equivalent Service Module at the Energia facility and the flight equivalent FGB module at the Krunichev facility. As a result of the testing, the Russian teams (Energia & Krunichev) have concurred that we are ready for launch. 3) The approval by NASA of our flight safety package. The final certificate of safety compliance was signed in late July. The NASA safety team at JSC gave the approval for launch on STS-106 of the ARISS hardware which is stowed within Spacehab. Shuttle Rollout occurs within the week! Press briefings that were scheduled for last Wednesday are available via the Internet at the following URL; http://sarex.gsfc.nasa.gov/~ariss/PressBriefings/STS-106%20Press%20Briefing.htm [Info via Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs] * ARIANE FLIGHT 130 LAUNCH SET * ================================ Arianespace Flight 130 has been cleared for launch on September 14. Flight 130 had been set for a July 25 launch, but problems with the upper stage's attitude control system were found during a test at the manufacturing facility in Europe. In an effort to assure success on Flight 130, Arianespace ordered a stand-down of processing. After an investigation, it was discovered that the problem was caused in the brazing of two separate pieces inside of the failed thruster. After the root cause was found, Arianespace and Astrium, the thruster manufacturer, devised a plan to replace all six thrusters on Flight 130's upper stage. Thrusters that were selected were put through an intense inspection to insure that those thrusters did not have the same problem. Further information is available at: http://spaceflightnow.com/ariane/v130/status.html [Info via Jeff Davis, N9AVG] * AO-27 NEWS * ============== AMRAD-OSCAR-27 satellite controller Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ, reported that time was spent last week uploading software upgrades to the AO-27 satellite. The satellite was unavailable for use while the uploads were taking place. * 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: KITSAT-OSCAR-25 <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> <<=- Serving the planet (and beyond) since 1987 -=>> /EX