SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0213 * SpaceNews 13-Feb-95 * BID: $SPC0213 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY FEBRUARY 13, 1995 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited free distribution. * ITAMSAT STATUS * ================== ITAMSAT (IO-26) status as of 03-Feb-95: Alberto Zagni, I2KBD, reports that ground controllers IV2VOO and IK2OYD loaded and succesfully ran the latest version of IHTX code on ITAMSAT-OSCAR-26. This code allows for a scheduled OFF of the main transmitter to conserve battery power and increase TX power during mostly used parts of the orbit. WOD dumps are underway to analyze the new power trend and BBS code upload should be take place shortly if all is okay. The following beacon frame was copied from the satellite by KD2BD on 11-Feb-95 at 01:30 UTC on 435.822 MHz: IY2SAT-1>AMSAT : ** 6th February 1995 ** IHT ver. 3.1 running. WOD channels 1E 21 30 2B 26 33 is underway. Digi is ON 73 de ITAMSAT Command team. * H-II LAUNCH INFORMATION * =========================== The National Space Development Agency (NASDA) had to reschedule the launch of H-II Test Flight No. 3 on February 22, 1995. NASDA found that the Space Flyer Unit (SFU) would have to be delivered by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) after February 11 because of a leak detected in a pipe of Orbit Change Thruster (OCT) System of the Space Flyer Unit (SFU). As a result, it will be impossible to launch the H-II in February. The new date of the launch will be based on the delivery time of SFU which is now under study by ISAS. [Info via Yoshiro Yamada at the Yokohama Science Center, Japan] * AO-27 STATUS * ================ Here is the current information on AO-27's status, courtesy of AO-27 control operator N4USI: AO-27 will be on beginning Friday, 10 February 1995 until Monday morning, 13 February 1995. AO-27 is generally available in FM repeater mode on weekends during daylight passes over the Northern Hemisphere. The center downlink frequency for stations that are correcting for doppler is 436.797 MHz. The uplink is centered on 145.850 MHz. Uplink and downlink modes are FM. The repeater is operational from when the satellite's foot print hits 38 degrees North latitude until it leaves about 37 degrees North latitude during the daylight only. The repeater *may* activated on an ad-hoc basis during evening passes on weekends and weekdays. Users are reminded that as an FM-mode repeater, AO-27 is subject to FM "capture effect" and can only transmit one signal at a time. Users are asked to cooperate, keep calls short, give breaks so as many stations as possible can work a pass, and ABOVE ALL, LISTEN BEFORE AND WHILE TRANSMITTING. The satellite has a very senisitve receiver, and stations running approximately 25 watts power to moderate-gain omnidirectional antennas can get a good uplink signal into the satellite. A sensitive UHF FM receiver with a preamplifier and an omnidirectional antenna can receive AO-27's downlink with some fading. Moderate-gain directional arrays should provide a solid receive signal. Remember to correct for the +/- 9 kHz of doppler shift on the 436.797 MHz downlink signal during a pass. No doppler correction is needed for the 145.850 MHz uplink signal. Users are asked not to transmit on 145.850 MHz if they do not hear the satellite's downlink so as to avoid possible interference to other satellite uplinks and downlinks on adjacent frequencies. Controllers will attempt to provide regular bulletins to keep the satellite user community informed of AO-27's status and availability. For now, questions regarding AO-27 may be forwarded to ka1lm@amsat.org. [Info via Steve Greene, KA1LM] * SpaceNews NEWS * ================== Maurizio Bertolino reminds us that SpaceNews is available on his Trance BBS in Turin, Italy. This BBS is devoted to Ham Radio, Short-wave Listening, and Space Topics. It can be reached at: +39-11-482751. * THANKS! * =========== Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews, especially: VE1AIC NT2P K4ITV G7MUB * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * =========================== Mail to SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the following paths: FAX : 1-908-747-7107 PACKET : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org -or- magliaco@pilot.njin.net SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, LUSAT-OSCAR-19 MAIL : John A. Magliacane, KD2BD Department of Engineering and Technology Advanced Technology Center Brookdale Community College Lincroft, New Jersey 07738 U.S.A. <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> /EX