Satgen139  Shuttle Very Low Frequency Experiment STS-45  by GM4IHJ 24Nov91

STS-45 is due to launch in March/April 92 for the first Atmospheric
Laboratory for Application and Science ( ATLAS-1 ) experiments. The orbit
inclination is to be 57 degs, so it will come over UK. Orbit period 90.4
minutes , Height 296 Kms, Duration 7 days .

Communications will be normal S and Ku band via TDRS Geosat relays, but we
can expect some use of 259.7 MHz AM when near UK. Follow up ATLAS missions
are planned for May 93 and Mar 94.

Of interest to Radio Amateurs will be the Space Experiment with Particle
Accelerators ( SEPAC ). SEPAC will investigate the ionosphere and
magnetosphere by transmitting on an 8Kw electron beam, modulated at Very
Low Frequency by audio tones between 50Hz and 7KHz

In order to collect as much reception data as possible Amateur Radio
Operators and Schools are invited to participate. A low cost receiver (
about 25 pounds sterling) has been designed and details will be available
to participants. The overall project is called INSPIRE Interactive Space
Physics Ionosphere Radio Experiment. Schools participating will be linked
by a large amateur radio network. For details about Inspire send an SAE
with about 4 IRCs to KG6EK 22 Charles St, Sunnyvale , CA, 94086 - 6063
USA. Schools participation data can be obtained for an SAE plus 4 IRCs
from Bill Pine, Science Dept, Chaffey High School , 1245 N. Euclid Ave,
Ontario, CA, 91762, USA.

Radio Amateurs and Schools in Northern Europe may find they have an
advantage. It is well known that the magnetosphere can act like a
waveguide conduit rapidly transfering VLF signals from Pole to Pole ( as
in the regular dopplering VLF whistlers and sliders generated by
thunderstorms and propagated from one polar area to the other ). Stations
near the Polar Oval may get excellent reception and this could at times
extend down to stations in Northern Europe. ( Thanks to GM4JJJ for early
warning of these tests ).

Sara Oscar 23 Eclipse software, and Planetary Tracking software announced
in Satgen136 was uploaded to Uosat3 as file 3352, thanks to Dave G4WFQ.
Contact your local Uosat or Pacsat Gateway to see if they have it on file.

Aurora. Have been asked by several readers why GM4IHJ was not evident in
recent auroras. Quite simple - the Auroras were to my south. The Visuals
were magnificent but the terrestrial and satellite radio links simply were
not there to stations to my south. RS12 in particular was an impossible
signal from Central Scotland 56N with the Aurora peaking over 53N, whereas
G3IOR had an intriguing mixture of signals from just south of the Auroral
front. It could be very interesting to see what might happen in the
INSPIRE tests, if the Auroral front should venture so far south whilst
they are in progress.  73 de John GM4IHJ @ GB7SAN