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AMSAT-NA President Keith Baker, KB1SF, recently announced the assignment of several new OSCAR numbers. The new numbers were assigned to the amateur radio satellites launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on January 27, 2000. The launch was aboard an Orbital Sciences Minotaur launch vehicle.
OSCAR numbers are issued by AMSAT-NA at the request of Project OSCAR, which built and launched the first amateur radio satellites beginning with OSCAR-1 in 1961.
In order to qualify for an OSCAR designation, certain specified criteria must be met, the most important of which are set forth in a document issued by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) - entitled 'Information for Prospective Owners and Operators of Satellites Utilizing Frequencies Allocated to the Amateur-Satellite Service'. This document is available on the IARU Internet web site and also through a link from the AMSAT-NA web page. The IARU document is based on a similar document published earlier by AMSAT-NA.
Other criteria include the need for a written request by the person or organization responsible for the satellite to be submitted to AMSAT-NA. This request must include information about the satellite (such as frequencies and orbit) as well as a statement that the requirements of the IARU document have been and are being met.
The following OSCAR information is provided relative to the latest number designations:
JAWSAT (which stands for Joint Air Force Weber Satellite), in addition to its own electronic payload, consisted of a structure on which were mounted a number of other spacecraft. These small satellites were ejected from JAWSAT itself. Among these were the several amateur radio satellites which have now received OSCAR numbers.
ASUSat, built at Arizona State University, is now also known as Arizona State OSCAR-37, or AO-37.
OPAL, built at Stanford University in California, is designated OPAL OSCAR-38, or OO-38.
JAWSAT, built at Weber State University in Utah, is designated Weber OSCAR-39, or WO-39.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-NA Chairman of the Board Bill Tynan, W3XO, and AMSAT-NA President Keith Baker, KB1SF for this information]
NASA recently demonstrated the ability to use standard Internet protocols to communicate with an orbiting spacecraft (just like any node on the Internet). Engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center working with the Operating Missions as Nodes on the Internet (OMNI) project have completed the first step in extending Internet access to future spacecraft. AMSAT-NA's Ron Parise, WA4SIR, is one of the driving forces in the project.
NASA has been developing this project by working with UoSAT-12, a spacecraft built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL). UoSAT-12 is also known as UO-36 by the amateur radio community and carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward communications and mode L/S transponders in addition to its commercial payload.
Engineers from the GSFC successfully used standard Internet ping packets to communicate with UoSAT-12 through a ground station in Surrey, England. This is the first time that a spacecraft ever had its own Internet address and was a fully compliant active node on the world-wide web [sic].
Subsequent tests will expand on the basic network capabilities established and will demonstrate the use of standard Internet applications to support normal spacecraft operations. Automatic spacecraft clock synchronization will be demonstrated using Network Time Protocol (NTP), reliable file transfer will be demonstrated using standard File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and finally, the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) will be used to demonstrate automated file store-and-forward.
Future tests are planned to incorporate technologies required to support full operational deployment of Internet protocols on future space missions.
More information about this new development is available at http://www.spacedaily.com/news/internet-00l.html
[ANS thanks Joseph Fitzgerald for this information]
Several satellite operators, along with the ARRL Letter, noted improved GPS receiver accuracy recently. The AMSAT-BB was active with reports about how the United States terminated selective availability as of midnight on May 1, 2000. The ARRL Letter also contained information about the changeover.
Selective availability (SA) was an error introduced initially for national security purposes. It prevented GPS from being as accurate as it could have been for civilian users. With SA turned off, accuracy is expected to be as much as 10 times better.
Eric Lemmon, WB6FLY, called the action "a huge benefit to hams who are into APRS, because the SA error will no longer hamper its accuracy." Harry Pyle, AB7TB, charted the error at the changeover. His data show the GPS error -- typically in the 100 to 200 foot range -- dramatically dropping to something on the order of from 10 to 20 feet when SA was turned off.
More information on the elimination of the GPS Selective Availability can be found at http://www.igeb.gov (and) http://www.whitehouse.gov/library/PressReleases.cgi
[ANS thanks the ARRL, .Eric Lemmon, WB6FLY and Harry Pyle, AB7TB, 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
145.985 MHz simplex FM voice and SSTV (Robot 36 mode)
AMSAT's Bruce Paige, KK5DO, reported that two cosmonauts -- Sergei Zalyotin and Alexandr Kaleri -- have arrived on the Russian Mir space station. Several news agencies (including CNN) also reported the April 4th launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and the successful docking with Mir.
Ham radio activity aboard the Mir space station is apparently back on line -- currently in limited fashion. No activity has been reported from the orbiter during the last week.
Stay tuned to ANS for further details.
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.
More information about RS-12 and RS-13 can be found on 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)
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, reports a QSL card confirming contact with HZ1AB via AO-10 (QSL via K8PYD).
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.
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 March 19).
TEPR 4 is 28 TEPR 5 is 64
[ANS thanks Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ, and Michael Wyrick, N4USI, for AO-27 information]
Uplink 145.975 MHz FM
Downlink 435.070 MHz FM
Operational.
UO-14 was launched in January 1990.
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.
Transponder operation has resumed. Operations were recently cancelled due to high satellite temperatures caused by satellite orbit orientation. Tests were performed to find workable solutions to the temperature problem. The SunSat team reports these tests have been successful and internal satellite temperatures has been reduced by changing both the satellite orientation and spin rate. Kurt, N0VEK, reported strong stations during a recent pass, "stations had great signals," said N0VEK.
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.
Takushi, JO2OXL, reports that the JARL FO-20 Ground Station operators believe that with the inability to (now) determine the satellite battery status (through the loss of the beacon), it is possible that FO-20 is in its final phases. Operation will continue as long as possible.
Mark, KB3CWS, Ron, KA2HZO, and Robert, W0LMD, had some success with transmitting/receiving slowscan pictures though FO-20. The pictures were transmitted and received using the Scottie-S2 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.
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:
| May 7 | JA |
| May 8 - 14 | JD1200 |
| May 15 - June 8 | 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 downlink efficiency in the 60% range. Traffic is light to moderate.
[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 continues in 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.
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.
OSCAR-11 celebrated its sixteenth birthday on March 1, 2000.
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.
Users should note that the date in the hardware generated ASCII telemetry is now advanced by 3 days and the other dates (which are generated by software) are advanced by 1 day. Ground control may be able to correct the software generated dates, but not the hardware generated date.
More information on OSCAR-11 is available at 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, has 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:
Uptime is 645/08:43:43 -- time is Sat May 06 22:27:00 2000 +X (RX) Temp -11.087 D RX Temp 1.252 D RC PSK BP Temp -3.796 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -4.917 D +Y Array Temp -19.501 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -3.796 D +Z Array Temp -16.696 D Total Array C= 0.010 Bat Ch Cur=-0.170 Ifb= 0.117 I+10V= 0.060 TX:012 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. 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 spin rate evaluation confirms a spin rate of 1 revolution every 18 minutes. Power output is low due to this spin rate.
Normally, the S-band transmitter is off.
Telemetry is as follows:
Uptime is 083/19:11:20 -- time is Sat May 06 22:41:49 2000 +X (RX) Temp -11.499 D RX Temp 1.814 D Bat 1 V 1.244 V Bat 2 V 1.192 V Bat 3 V 1.262 V Bat 4 V 1.267 V Bat 5 V 1.242 V Bat 6 V 1.226 V Bat 7 V 1.258 V Bat 8 V 1.276 V +5V Bus 4.718 V +8.5V Bus 7.746 V +Y Array Temp -24.811 D +Z Array Temp -17.550 D Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.359 Ifb= 0.186 I+10V= 0.188 TX:1008 BCR:1E PWRC:05C BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:2B
A new WOD collection of current graphics (dated 02/26/2000) can be found at http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu
[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.
NASA recently demonstrated the ability to use standard Internet protocols to communicate with an orbiting spacecraft (just like any node on the Internet). NASA has been developing this project by working with the commercial payload on UoSAT-12.
The BBS is open, although uploading (and the downlink) may be disabled at times.
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.
Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-23 is (again) non-operational. The downlink transmitter is off, with the last received data received on 4/13/2000 at 04:10 UTC. KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, reports (from the KO-23 control team) that part of the problem with recent non-operation has been the power budget aboard the satellite.
[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 (the last report was dated 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 a continuous 3 seconds in length), currently on 435.225 MHz.
The TechSat team has constructed a home page about TechSat: http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/
Uplink/downlink frequencies have never been released.
The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions.
PanSat, developed by the Naval Postgraduate School, was launched from the shuttle Discovery (during STS-95) on October 29, 1998. At the time of launch, PanSat spread-spectrum digital transponders were promised to be available to amateur radio operators along with software to utilize this technology. To date, this has not happened.
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]
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 and image and
transponder 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.
