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As reported last week in ANS-065.01, AMSAT-DL's Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, broke the exciting news on how the Phase 3D next-generation amateur radio satellite has been tentatively scheduled for launch in late July.
This week, Richard Limebear, G3RWL, on behalf of AMSAT-UK, tells ANS (via the GB2RS/RSGB News Service) about the cost of transporting the Phase 3D satellite to the launch site. The bulletin reads as follows:
The Phase 3D spacecraft now has a launch on Ariane flight 507 currently scheduled for late July. The satellite itself is sitting in a clean room in Kourou, French Guiana, in its packing case, waiting for the launch campaign to start in a few month's time.
At this time it can also be announced that AMSAT-UK has paid $23,739.00 (UK pounds 15,450) for the cost of shipping Phase 3D from Atlanta to the launch site at Kourou. The cost of trucking the satellite from the Orlando Integration facility to the Atlanta airport ($1,000.00) was met by AMSAT-ZL. Both of these are superb examples of amateur radio operators, worldwide, contributing to the overall costs of the Phase 3D project.
According the G3RWL, the $23,739.00 payment was met from the AMSAT-UK Phase 3D fund, which, prior to this expense, last year also presented AMSAT-NA President Keith Baker, KB1SF, with a check for $13,340.00, to be used to purchase thermal blankets for the spacecraft.
On hearing of the AMSAT-UK, and AMSAT-ZL financial contributions to Phase 3D, the Executive Vice President of AMSAT-NA, Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, told ANS that "it is assistance such as this, from these AMSAT organizations that really make Phase 3D a truly international effort, not only in technical aspects but also providing a financial partnership."
Phase 3D costs are not yet totally complete and the AMSAT-UK fund (and AMSAT-NA) remain open for further contributions.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and Richard Limebear, G3RWL, for this information]
AMSAT's Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, on behalf of the ARISS International Team, recently released the following International Space Station news on both the AMSAT-NA bulletin board and the SAREX reflector:
Members of the Amateur Radio International Space Station (ARISS) team in the U.S. received word from the Russian team that a Russian station license has been granted for the ISS ham radio station. This license is valid for all amateur radio hardware that will be located in the Russian Segment. It will support the operation and use of the ham radio station in all of the Russian provided segments of ISS. This includes the Zarya module that is currently on-orbit and the Zvezda Service Module that is planned for launch this summer.
During a recent telephone conversation, AMSAT-RU team member Sergei Samburov, RK3DR, informed the U.S. Technical Team that the Russian Federation Communications Oversight Commission has granted a license to operate a "ham radio station of the highest public usage category" for the ISS Russian Segment. The ARISS U.S. team received a copy of the license on March 2, 2000. Since that time, NASA has translated the Russian Cyrillic to English for the team.
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS-International Administrative Chairman explained to ANS that "this specific license enables the on-orbit ISS crews to operate all amateur radio modes and bands. It is a critical step in our future operations of ham radio on ISS. We are excited that the Russian team has made significant progress and we now have our first license in place."
Sergei Samburov explained to the ham team that this license is required before any ham radio equipment can be installed in the Russian Segment. The station license call sign is RZ3DZR. It is valid through March 2, 2005.
The ARISS International team is working on a long-term plan for a single, international ISS station license. This will allow all the international crew members to operate different hardware that will comprise the ham radio station in any part of the ISS without third party restrictions in their country. This was discussed at the ARISS meeting in Surrey, England in July 1998 and at the IARU Satellite Meeting during the 1999 AMSAT-NA symposium in San Diego, California. It is also an agenda topic for the upcoming ARISS meeting that will be held near Amsterdam later this month. The ARISS team is working with the IARU to develop a long term, international solution. In the meantime, the team is pursuing licenses in each of the member countries. The U.S. team will soon apply for a station license to allow Bill Shepard, KD5GSL, to use the station later this year.
For more information on the ISS assembly sequence, see http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/assembly/index.html
[ANS thanks Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO, and the ARISS International Team for this information]
AMSAT-NA 2000 Symposium Chairman George Caswell Sr., W1ME, has released the first call to authors who wish to submit papers for presentation and publication in the proceedings of the 2000 Symposium.
The 18th AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium will be held October 27-29, 2000 (Friday-Sunday) at the Holiday Inn West, in Portland, Maine.
Topics covering the diverse aspects of amateur radio satellite disciplines are sought from throughout the entire AMSAT community. If authors do not wish to present a paper, but have a topic of interest, they are asked to submit the topic and arrangements can be made for presentation and publication in the proceedings. With the imminent launch of Phase 3D, it is expected that many of the topics will center around AMSAT's most ambitious satellite project.
Key deadline dates for authors are:
In September, authors will be provided with a tentative Symposium agenda that will provide an agenda for presentations. Each presentation will be limited to approximately 20 minutes.
Please send abstracts and papers to Symposium Chair:
George Caswell Sr., W1ME
16 Westwood Avenue
Scarborough, Maine 04074
E-mail: w1me@amsat.org
More information is available at http://www.amsat.org/amsat/symposium
[ANS thanks Caroline Caswell and AMSAT-NA Symposium Chair George Caswell Sr., W1ME, for this information]
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
Mir . RS-12 . RS-13 . RS-15 . AO-10 . AO-27 . UO-14 . FO-20 . FO-29 . KO-23 . KO-25 . UO-11 . AO-16 . DO-17 . WO-18 . LO-19 . UO-22 . IO-26 . TO-31 . GO-32 . SO-33 . PO-34 . SO-35 . UO-36
Uplink 21.260 to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB
Uplink 145.960 to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.460 to 29.500 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 145.960 to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 29.504 MHz
Robot Uplink 21.140 MHz, Downlink 29.458 MHz
Operational, in mode-KA with a 10-meter downlink and a 15-meter and 2-meter uplink.
AC5DK's RS-12/13 Satellite Operators Page: http://www.qsl.net/ac5dk/rs1213/rs1213.html
Uplink 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 29.352 MHz (intermittent)
SSB meeting frequency 29.380 MHz (unofficial)
Semi-operational, Mode A (2m uplink, 10m downlink)
Mike, N1JEZ, reports RS-15 is currently operating with an active beacon, but it's an unmodulated carrier on for 5 seconds then off for 2 seconds, continually repeating the cycle. The transponder is only active when the beacon is on! Despite this Mike reports downlink signals were S-3 to S-5.
Dave, WB6LLO, has operating information for both RS-15 and RS-13 on his personal web site. In addition to satellite data, antenna information for mode A operation is also featured. The WB6LLO web site URL is http://home.san.rr.com/doguimont/uploads
Uplink 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB
Beacon 145.810 MHz (unmodulated carrier)
Semi-operational.
DX continues to be worked (and heard) on AO-10. Mike, N1JEZ, recently worked the FO0AAA Clipperton Island DXpedition, as did Jon, KE9NA. N1JEZ also snagged PJ8/N1MEZ on UO-14 (for two new DXCC countries).
Stacey Mills, W4SM, has more information about the satellite at http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/AO-10.html
[ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM, for his AO-10 status information and web site]
Uplink 145.850 MHz FM
Downlink 436.792 MHz FM
Operational.
Tony, W7EWC, tells ANS he plans to be active on AO-27 from the Bahamas as W7EWC/C6A during the entire month of March.
An AO-27 question-and-answer page is available on the AMSAT-NA web site. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/intro/ao27faq.html
AO-27 uses a method called Timed Eclipse Power Regulation (TEPR) to regulate the on-board batteries. In simple terms, TEPR times how long the satellite has been in the eclipse (or in the sun) and decides what subsystems to turn on or off. The AO-27 pages on the AMSAT-NA web site include an explanation of AO-27 operations at http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/ao27.html
Chuck, KM4NZ, recently reset the TEPR states on AO-27 (on February 12).
TEPR 4 is 22 TEPR 5 is 58
[ANS thanks Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ, and Michael Wyrick, N4USI, for AO-27 information]
Uplink 145.975 MHz FM
Downlink 435.070 MHz FM
Operational.
Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO reported on the AMSAT bulletin board that UO-14 -- launched in January 1990 -- spent its first 18 months in orbit operating as a store-and-forward satellite. It was then switched for use by Volunteers in Technical Assistance, who used it for medical messaging into Africa. "Since the computer which is used for store-and-forward communications is no longer able to perform that task, UO-14 is no longer usable in this mode," reported G7UPN. "It is, however, possible to use the satellite as a single-channel FM voice repeater, and I have configured the satellite to do this."
Mike, N1JEZ reports working PJ8/N1MEZ via UO-14.
Tim, KG8OC, has updated the Michigan AMSAT Information Site with UO-14 information, see http://www.qsl.net/kg8oc
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, for UO-14 information]
Uplink 436.291 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 145.825 MHz CW/LSB
Operational.
SunSat was launched February 23, 1999 aboard a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, recently celebrating its first year in orbit.
The SunSat package includes 1200 and 9600 baud digital store-and-forward capability and a voice 'parrot' repeater system that will be used primarily for educational demonstrations. The satellite has two VHF and two UHF transmit-receive systems.
The announced SunSat schedule is as follows:
March 15, 2000
Europe 20:54 to 21:08 UTC
South America 23:33 to 23:47
USA 03:18 to 03:32
March 16, 2000
Australia 10:36 to 10:50 UTC
Japan 23:50 to 00:04
USA 04:18 to 04:32
March 17, 2000
Australia 11:35 to 11:49 UTC
Europe 21:13 to 21:27
South America 23:52 to 00:06
March 18, 2000
Australia 23:48 to 00:02 UTC
RSA 08:08 to 08:22
Europe 06:53 to 07:07
USA 15:07 to 15:21
March 19, 2000
Japan 23:28 to 23:42 UTC
RSA 07:28 to 07:42
South America 12:30 to 12:44
USA 14:27 to 14:41
For more information on SunSat, visit http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za
A summary of the active modes and frequency allocations for SunSat is available at http://esl.ee.sun.ac.za/~lochner/sunsat/modes.html
[ANS thanks Garth Milne ZR1AFH, for this information]
Uplink 145.900 to 146.000 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 MHz CW/USB
Operational.
FO-20 is in mode JA continuously.
JAS-1b (FO-20) was launched in February 1990 and continues to function quite well. Tony, AB2CJ, has been QRV on FO-20 using the Hellschreiber mode.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK for the FO-20 status reports]
JAS-2 was successfully launched on August 17, 1996, by an H-II launch vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Center. Mineo, JE9PEL, recently downloaded FO-29 telemetry and reported the results on the AMSAT-BB.
Mike, KF4FDJ, has put together a very informative document on FO-29, addressing analog, digital and digi-talker modes. To obtain a copy e-mail Mike at kf4fdj@amsat.org
Kazu, JJ1WTK, reports the FO-29 operational schedule (announced by the JARL) is as follows:
| through March 20 | JA |
| March 21 - 24 | JD1200 |
| March 25 - April 2 | JA |
Mineo, JE9PEL, has updated his FO-29 satellite telemetry analysis program. The software will automatically analyze all digital telemetry from the satellite such as current, voltage and temperature. The JE9PEL FO-29/software update is available at http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-29 status reports]
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM
Downlink 436.500 MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK
Operational.
Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-25 is operational with an approximate 50% downlink efficiency on data throughput.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for KO-25 status information]
Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM
Downlink 435.120 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Operational
Chris Jackson, G7UPN, reports to ANS that UO-22 has now entered full sunlight and the temperatures have increased considerably. Controllers have turned the satellite upside down to point the critical systems to cold space. This has reduced the temperature on various systems (such as the batteries) by between 5 and 10 degrees. The unfortunate by-product of this is that the downlink is now quite weak.
The satellite will remain in full sunlight until late March, when controllers will turn it back 'over' again. According to G7UPN "over the next few years this situation will become worse as the no eclipse periods become longer."
Only the 145.900 MHz receiver is usable for communications at the moment.
More information on the satellite is available at http://www.sstl.co.uk
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO for UO-22 status information]
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 baud PSK
Beacon 2401.500 MHz
Operational.
Clive Wallis, G3CWV, reports that during the period of 15-January to 15-February good signals have been received from the 145 MHz beacon. The battery voltage during daylight passes has dropped slightly. The average value observed was 13.8 volts, with a range of 13.6 to 14.1 volts. The internal temperatures have decreased slightly. They are now 5.0C and 3.2C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. A WOD survey dated January 6th has been transmitted. The mode-S beacon is on and transmitting an unmodulated carrier. The beacon is a useful test source for testing mode-S converters prior to the launch of P3D.
The operating schedule is unchanged.
ASCII status (210 seconds)
ASCII bulletin (60 seconds)
BINARY SEU (30 seconds)
ASCII TLM (90 seconds)
ASCII WOD (120 seconds)
ASCII bulletin (60 seconds)
BINARY ENG (30 seconds)
The ASCII bulletin is currently a static message, detailing modes and frequencies of all the amateur radio satellites.
More information on OSCAR-11 is available at the following URL:
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/
[ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for OSCAR-11 status information]
Uplink 145.840, 145.860, 145.880, 145.900 MHz 1200 bps Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB, 1200 bps RC-BPSK
Currently semi-operational.
The CW beacon is sending eight telemetry channels and one status channel. Currently, no BBS service is available. The digipeater is active.
Mineo, JE9PEL, recently recorded LO-19 CW and PSK telemetry and placed the information on his Internet homepage site at http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/
Telemetry is as follows:
Time is Fri Mar 10 22:30:40 2000 uptime is 588/08:47:23 +10V Bus 10.668 V RC PSK TX Out 0.630 W Bat 1 Temp 4.057 D Bat 2 Temp 4.618 D Baseplt Temp 3.496 D RC PSK BP Temp 1.252 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 0.692 D +Y Array Temp -16.696 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 0.692 D +Z Array Temp -12.770 D Total Array C= 0.008 Bat Ch Cur=-0.277 Ifb= 0.119 I+10V= 0.164 TX:017 BCR:1E PWRC:62D BT:3C WC: 0
General information and telemetry samples can be found at http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/lo19.htm
[ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.]
Uplink 145.900, 145.920, 145.940, 145.860 MHz FM, 1200 bps Manchester
FSK
Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB, 1200 bps RC-BPSK 1200 Baud PSK
Beacon 2401.1428 MHz.
Semi-operational.
Russ, WJ9F, reports ground stations are currently running memory test software on the satellite. After loading the file server software the satellite reverted back to MBL mode after about 3 minutes. Russ and his team are evaluating if a write to memory glitch may have caused the problem. In addition to the memory testing, the spacecraft spin rate around the vertical (Z) axis has created a less than ideal condition for battery charging.
The S-band transmitter is currently off.
Kazu, JJ1WTK, reports the AO-16 signal is weaker than before but perfectly decodable. The JJ1WTK spin rate measurement is also on going. The current spin rate is about 18 revolutions per minute.
Telemetry is as follows:
Time is Fri Mar 10 22:28:38 2000 uptime is 026/18:59:28 +10V Bus 10.600 V +X (RX) Temp -5.448 D RX Temp 9.075 D +Z Array Temp -7.868 D Bat 1 V 1.275 V Bat 2 V 1.290 V Bat 3 V 1.308 V Bat 4 V 1.290 V Bat 5 V 1.306 V Bat 6 V 1.314 V Bat 7 V 1.294 V Bat 8 V 1.306 V +5V Bus 4.749 V +8.5V Bus 7.764 V Bat 1 Temp 4.839 D Bat 2 Temp 5.444 D Baseplt Temp 4.839 D PSK TX RF Out 1.308 W +Y Array Temp -19.970 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 1.209 D Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.396 Ifb= 0.207 I+10V= 0.213 TX:1008 BCR:1E PWRC:05B BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:DC
General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu
A complete collection of WOD graphics corresponding to the year of 1998 can be found at http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/wod1998.zip
[ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.]
Uplink 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 436.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
Operational.
ProcMail V2.00G has been released by G7UPN. This software permits the processing of image files from TO-31. It has been posted to the AMSAT-NA FTP site at http://www.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/wisp
Many of the high-resolution color images transmitted by TMSAT are compressed using a UoSAT compression format. This format is supported by the VK5HI CCD display program.
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for this report]
Uplink 145.960 MHz, 9600 baud FSK
Downlink 437.025, 437.400 MHz, 9600 baud FSK
UoSAT-12 was successfully launched on April 21, 1999 from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome. UO-36 carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward communications and mode L/S transponders.
The BBS is open, although uploading may be disabled at times.
UO-36 ground control finished Merlion operations recently with limited coverage over the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The operations generated a carrier at about 1-watt of power on 2401 MHz.
The VK5HI TMSAT viewer shareware is available on the AMSAT-NA web site at ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/display/ccddsp97-119.zip
Further information on UO-36 is available from: http://www.sstl.co.uk/
[ANS thanks Chris G7UPN/ZL2TPO, and the University of Surrey, for this information]
Uplink 145.875, 145.900, 145.925, 145.950 MHz FM
Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK
Semi-operational.
Digipeater function is on.
IO-26 was launched on September 26, 1993.
Alberto, I2KBD, reports IO-26 has been opened to APRS use.
[ANS thanks ITAMSAT Project Manager Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD, for this information]
Uplink 145.850, 145.900 MHz FM
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK
Non-operational.
AA7KC reports KO-23 is (again) non-operational. The last data was received on March 2nd. The observed pass of KO-23 on March 4th had the same results. KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, reports (from the KO-23 control team) that part of the problem with non-operation has been the power budget aboard the satellite.
Stay tuned to ANS for further information.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, for KO-23 status information]
Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB
Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 29.408 MHz
Robot Uplink 21.129 MHz, Downlink 29.454 MHz
Non-operational. No operation in 2000 has been observed.
Downlink 435.225 MHz, HDLC telemetry
Efforts were reported to be underway to bring GO-32 on line, however no additional information has been received by ANS since November 1999.
The TechSat-1B micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998.
Last reported, the satellite does not have a continuous beacon, but does transmit a 9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (for about 3 seconds in length), currently on 435.225 MHz.
The TechSat team has constructed a home page about TechSat. To view the site, point your web browser to:
http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/
Uplink/downlink frequencies have not been established.
The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions.
PANSAT, developed by the Naval Postgraduate School, was launched from the shuttle Discovery. PANSAT spread-spectrum digital transponders will be available to amateur radio operators in the near future along with software to utilize this technology.
For more information, visit the official PANSAT web site at:
http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/pansat/
PanSat was the featured cover article in the July/August 1999 issue of the AMSAT-NA Journal (written by KD6DRA and N7HPR).
[ANS thanks Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, for this information]
Ham radio activity aboard the Mir space station came to a close on August 28, 1999 as the crew returned to Earth, leaving the station unmanned. Mir is in a stable orbit with only essential systems running. All amateur radio activities have ceased.
Current Amateur Radio equipment aboard Mir includes:
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK
Beacon 2401.220 MHz
Non-operational.
DOVE stopped transmitting in March 1998. The 145.825 MHz and 2401.220 MHz downlinks are off the air and the satellite has not responded to ground station control.
No additional information is available at this time.
Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25
Non-operational.
WO-18 is reported to be in MBL mode after a software crash.
No additional information is available at this time.
Downlink 437.910 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions. Recovery efforts have
been unsuccessful.
SEDSAT-1, signifying Students for the Exploration and Development of Space Satellite number one, was successfully launched and placed in orbit on Saturday, October 24, 1998.
SedSat-1 has downlinked months worth of telemetry data on the performance of its electrical power system parameters. The Nickel Metal Hydride batteries on the spacecraft were experimental and experienced some abuse due to a power negative situation. This information has provided NASA with useful information. With the exception of the imaging system and the use of the transponders, SedSat-1 has been judged a success.
For more information on SedSat-1 visit the satellite web site at http://www.seds.org/sedsat
No additional information is available at this time.
ANS would like to thank Mike Seguin, N1JEZ, ANS principal satellite investigator, for helping provide current satellite information for ANS.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to the ANS Editors at ans-editor@amsat.org, or to ANS Editor Dan James, NN0DJ, at nn0dj@amsat.org.
This week's AMSAT News Service bulletins were edited by AMSAT News Service Editor Dan James, NN0DJ.
