SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-054.01 AO-40 S-Band Receiver Test Scheduled AMSAT News Service Bulletin 054.01 From AMSAT HQ Silver Spring, MD. February 23, 2003 To All Radio Amateurs BID: $ANS-054.01 The AO-40 team plans to test the S1 and S2 receivers with the K-band downlink on Sunday, February 23rd from MA 162 to 170 ( UTC ~19:26 to ~20:01). This will necessitate switching OFF the S2 Tx during this time. As is currently scheduled each orbit, the S2 Tx will be on, beacon only, along with the K-Tx during the 160 to 162 window. However, from 162 to 170, the S2 Tx will be off and only the S1 and S2 receivers, plus beacon, will be connected to the K-Tx. Stations with K-band reception are invited to monitor the tests. Normal passband operation should resume after MA 170. If weather or technical problems are prohibitive, we will reschedule. Because this is a single event test, the N-blk will not be modified to reflect this test. [ANS thanks Stacey, W4SM, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-054.02 AO-40 Operating Update AMSAT News Service Bulletin 054.02 From AMSAT HQ Silver Spring, MD. February 23, 2003 To All Radio Amateurs BID: $ANS-054.02 In order to keep the solar angle in the range of 30-35 degrees, ALON has been advanced to 10 degrees. As of February 17, nominal ALON/ALAT is was 10/0 and will remain so for 7 to 10 days. After that time ALON will be further advanced to maintain the proper solar angles. Due to the change in attitude the passband and K-Tx windows have been modified as below: N QST AMSAT AO-40 SCHEDULE 2003-02-17 MA 010 050 160 162 170 230 244 010 ---------7-----1-----3-----6-----4-----5-----0-----7 S2/K-Tx | S | S | S/K | S/K | S | S | S | MB | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | RUDAK | | | | | | | | V/U-Rx | U | U | U | U | U | U | V | Uplink | | UL | | UL | UL | | | [ANS thanks Stacey, W4SM, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-054.03 Guadeloupe (FG) on AO-40 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 054.03 From AMSAT HQ Silver Spring, MD. February 23, 2003 To All Radio Amateurs BID: $ANS-054.03 Below is the "final" operating schedule announcement for FG/W9AE in Guadeloupe (grid FK96). Because of the change in AO-40 ALON, the previously announced Americas/Pacific passes on 21 Feb. and 25 Feb now have high squint. I no longer plan to operate those passes. I MIGHT give it a shot on CW a few minutes before LOS when the squint drops to about 20 degrees. These are the "good squint" passes that I plan to operate: 22 Feb. 2300 UTC to 23 Feb. 0200 UTC (LOS). Window to Americas and Pacific. 23 Feb. 1500 UTC (AOS) to 2100 UTC. Window to Europe, Middle East, Africa, also Americas near the end 26 Feb. 2300 UTC to 27 Feb. 0200 UTC (LOS). Window to Americas and Pacific. [ANS thanks Wayne, W9AE, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-054.04 ANS Weekly Satellite Report Editor wanted AMSAT News Service Bulletin 054.04 From AMSAT HQ Silver Spring, MD. February 23, 2003 To All Radio Amateurs BID: $ANS-054.04 Wanted Editor for the AMSAT News Service - Weekly Satellite Report. Due to other irons in the fire, I'm actively looking for my replacement. If you'd like to be involved in helping fellow satellite operators stay abreast of the latest status of amateur satellites, please drop me a note. n1jez@amsat.org [ANS thanks Mike, N1JEZ, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-054.05 News in brief for this week AMSAT News Service Bulletin 054.05 From AMSAT HQ Silver Spring, MD. February 23, 2003 To All Radio Amateurs BID: $ANS-054.05 ** The Southeastern VHF Society invites you to join us in Huntsville, Alabama, April 25 & 26, 2003 for the Seventh Annual Southeastern VHF Society Conference. The conference will be held at the Huntsville Marriott, 5 Tranquility Base, next door to the US Space and Rocket Center. --SVHFS ** The US space agency NASA on Tuesday unveiled basic criteria for its Orbital Space Plane (OSP) series, the space craft due to succeed the space shuttle series from 2010. The new spacecraft's main mission will be to transport crew to and from the International Space Station (ISS), and to serve as an emergency evacuation vehicle for the ISS, a task now handled by the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The OSP, which will be launched from a classic rocket, will have a limited capacity to transport cargo. On its return to earth, it will land like an airplane, much like the current space shuttle. --SpaceDaily ** China plans to select three astronauts for its first manned space flight expected this autumn, state media reported. --SpaceDaily ** Dale Reich, K8AD, of Seville Ohio, has petitioned the FCC (RM-1064) to require sellers of two-way voice or data equipment to keep on file a buyer's name, address, telephone number and any future information. This, when selling a radio that required licensing under the current FCC rules. Included in the petition is a requirement for "ownership and license tagging" for gear operating under Parts 5, 15, 18, 74, 80, 90, 95 and 97. --Newsline /EX