Satgen332  Satellite Archeology Pt2   by GM4IHJ               5 Aug 95

The following non - operational amateur radio satellites are possible
targets .
Object No.  Name    Beacon Frequency : Object No.  Name   Beacon Frequency
78100B      RS1     29.401           : 65016F    OscarIII 145.925
78100C      RS2     29.401           : 70008B    Oscar 5  29.450  145.05
81120A      RS3     29.401  29.321   : 72082B    Oscar 6  29.450
81120D      RS4     29.403  29.360   : 74089B    Oscar 7  29.502
81120C      RS5     29.452  29.331   : 78026B    Oscar 8  29.402  435.095
81120F      RS6     29.453  29.411   :
81120E      RS7     29.501  29.341   :
81120B      RS8     29.502  29.461   :

Oscars I, II, IV and 9 , and Iskras 1 , 2 and 3 are known to have re
entered the atmosphere , as has Salyut 7 and its associated beacon on
Cosmos 1686. So these targets are not available. Fuji Oscar 12 has come to
life again from time to time , apparently when it answered commands
intended for Fuji Oscar 20, and Uosat Oscar 15 is known to have ceased
transmitting though its receiver local oscillator signals have been heard.

It is perhaps likely that none of the targets in the above table will be
heard again. Oscars 6 and 8 had battery shorts which prevented continued
operation using solar cell power. But Oscar 7 had its battery fail open
circuit. So with no short across the power bus , it is possible it just
might come to life again on solar cell power

If you think you hear any of these satellites , it is important that you
give a clear concise report. This report must include ,frequency and
doppler shift, time of day utc and date, signal strength and duration, and
telemetry content. Giving the frequency is not enough . Noting that so
many of these satellites operated on the same frequencies. The only really
positive identifiers are the time of day / date versus known orbit data
which places your station in the satellite footprint, and ,the type of
telemetry heard. Fortunately the types of telemetry varied greatly from
satellite to satellite and even where the telemetry is now garbled , its
pattern is often indicative of the satellite which is transmitting it.

By contrast with the above far from optimistic situation for the would be
satellite radio archeologist, the visual observer should find it
relatively easy to locate these old friends. Keplerian elements are
available , though you will have to go to NASA for them quoting the object
number given in the above table. Then given a pre dawn or post sunset
starry sky, from your ground station in darkness you should be able pick
out the satellite as it reflects the sunlight it can see but you cannot.
At GM4IHJ visual tracking software which reports graphically when the
satellite is passing nearby and reflecting sunlight, plus a pair of
ordinary binoculars , produces regular sightings of some of these old
friends.
Eg RS1 is a good target for Scotland after sunset tonight 5th August 95 on
a pass at 2116 to 2132 ut as it tracks to the ENE at max elevation of 20
degrees, and again on the next pass from 2316 to 2334 ut with max
elevation of 62 degrees as it passes to the ENE.