SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0904
* SpaceNews 04-Sep-00 *

BID: $SPC0904


			       =========
			       SpaceNews
			       =========


		 	MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2000



* STS-106 NEWS *
================
Countdown preparations continue on schedule for mission STS-106.
The countdown is set to begin at the T-43 hour mark on Tuesday,
September 5 at 11:00 AM EDT (1500 UTC).  On Monday, September 4,
the seven-member crew is set to arrive at KSC from their homes
in Houston to begin final preparations for launch.

This mission will not go on the air with amateur radio, but will
deliver ARISS hardware.  Look for Space Station activity on the
next flight currently scheduled for November.

Other STS-106 mission details:

MISSION: STS-106 -  4th  ISS Flight (2A.2b) - SPACEHAB
VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: Launch Pad 39B
KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Sept. 8, 2000 at 8:45 AM EDT (1245 UTC)
    (preferred launch time)
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 19, 2000 at 3:54 AM EDT (0754 UTC).
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2.5 minutes
MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 19 hours and 9 minutes
CREW: Wilcutt, Altman, Lu, Malenchenko, Morukov, Mastracchio, Burbank
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 177 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

[Info via NASA and Roy Neal, K6DUE]


* FUJI-OSCAR-29 NEWS *
======================
The FO-29 command station has released the following operating
schedule for the FUJI-OSCAR-29 satellite:

Fri 01-Sep-00 -to- Sun 10-Sep-00 : Mode JA
Mon 11-Sep-00 -to- Sun 17-Sep-00 : Mode JD (1200 baud mailbox operation)
Mon 18-Sep-00 -to- Sun 24-Sep-00 : Mode JA
Mon 25-Sep-00 -to- Sun 01-Oct-00 : Mode JD (1200 baud mailbox operation)
Mon 02-Oct-00 -to- Fri 06-Oct-00 : Mode JA
Sat 07-Oct-00 -to- Sun 05-Nov-00 : Digitalker (435.910 MHz FM)

Note: The satellite will be switched into Mode JA operation
every Wednesday during the scheduled Digitalker periods.

[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]


* PHASE 3D LAUNCH UPDATE *
==========================
AMSAT-DL Vice-President Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, recently reported
that the Phase 3D satellite "will be launched at the end of October
or beginning of November."  Ariane 5 launches have been postponed
until several components could be checked aboard the launcher.

DB2OS reports that Arianespace re-assigned the launch numbers.
"There will be two more Ariane 4 and one Ariane 5 launches," said
Peter, "but because Arianespace did not yet publish the new official
launch manifest, I can't be more precise."

DB2OS also reported that more news should be available after the
AR-506 launch, currently scheduled for September 14th.

"We are indeed on AR-507," said Peter ... "and the Phase 3-D
launch campaign should start on September 11th in Kourou!"

[Info via the AMSAT-NA News Service]


* 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 @ WB2COP.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