SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0327 * SpaceNews 27-Mar-95 * BID: $SPC0327 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY MARCH 27, 1995 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited free distribution. * UOSAT-5 NEWS * ================ The OBC-186 aboard UO-22 crashed during the early morning hours of 21-Mar-95. This is the third crash of the '186 in just over a month. While one of the crashes has been completely explained, the other two have not. As a result, ground controllers have spent the passes over the UK this date dumping the memory of the flight computer. It is expected that the dump should be completed in time to begin the reload process during the morning passes over the UK on 22-Mar-95. Controllers will attempt to have the reload completed as soon as possible and will provide additional information as details become available. Doug Loughmiller, G0SYX / KO5I UoSAT Spacecraft Operations Manager * MIR NEWS * ============ Dr. Norman Thaggart continues to make voice contacts using the callsign R0MIR on 145.550 MHz. QSLs for contacts with Norm are available via the following address: Dr. Norman Thaggart Mail Code CB Johnson Space Center Houston TX 77058 U.S.A. Norm will not be available to respond to QSL card requests for about 3 months, so please be patient. [Info via Joe, WA2GSY] * STS-67 WRAP-UP * ================== Endeavour landed safely at Edwards AFB on 18-Mar-95, setting a new endurance record for the orbiter of 16/15:09:46. The orbiter passed over the California coast and a powerful sonic boom was hear (and felt) throughout the Los Angeles area. The approximate landing times: RPV Sonic Boom: 13:41:36 PST (BOOM BOOM!) Main Gear: 13:47:00 PST 16/15:08:47 MET Nose Gear: 13:47:14 PST 16/15:09:01 MET Drag Chute Deploy: 13:47:17 PST Drag Chute Jettison: 13:47:43 PST Wheel Stop: 13:47:59 PST 16/15:09:46 MET [Info via Ken Ernandes, N2WWD] * NEWS CORRECTION * =================== MBL is the Microsat Boot Loader. It sends telemetry in a format different >From the format used when Microsats are in "normal" operation. It sends packets every 2 or 3 minutes depending on a number of factors and is designed to give controllers minimal telemetry when the spacecraft is reset. It runs from code stored in an EPROM and contains loader software used to load the normal operating software. The UNAMSAT-1 satellite will begin telemetry transmissions 20 minutes after separation. If the software survives the launch, the beacon will transmit norma telemetry, otherwise the spacecraft will be in MBL mode (as opposed to "mailbox" mode as reported in last week's issue of SpaceNews). Thanks to Jim White, WD0E, for the correction and the background information on MBL. * NASDA NEWS * ============== The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) launched the third H-II Launch Vehicle test flight (H-II TF#3) from Tanegashima Space Center with the Space Flyer Unit (SFU) and Geostationary Meteorological Satellite-5 (GMS-5) at 05:01:00 JST (=UTC+9h) PM on March 18, 1995 at a launch azimuth of 97 degrees. The flight of the first and the second stages was normal, and the guidance and control system functioned as planned. The Space Flyer Unit (SFU) was separated approximately 13 minutes 16 seconds after the launch, and GMS-5, at 27 minutes 47 seconds after the launch. All flight events of H-II TF#3 were completed. The data from the SFU after the first revolution was received at 06:37 PM (JST) on March 18 at the Sagamihara Operation Center, ISAS. The data confirmed that the SFU was injected into the proper orbit. NASDA also launched GMS-5 "HIMAWARI-5" at 05:01 PM (JST) on March 18, 1995 >From Tanegashima Space Center. The data from the satellite after the first revolution was received at 06:25 PM on March 18 at Madrid Tracking and Data Acquisition Station. The Data calculation confirmed that "HIMAWARI-5" was inserted into the first transfer orbit as planned. The first transfer orbit is as follows: Apogee Altitude: 36669 km Perigee Altitude: 329 km Orbit Inclination: 25.1 degree Period: 10 h 50 m The command for the apogee kick motor firing will be transmitted at 09:57 on March 19 from the Tracking and Control Center at Tsukuba Space Center. The Sagamihara Operation Center, ISAS confirmed that the SFU normally completed the solar array paddle deployment at 07:25 PM (JST) on March 18, 1995. The SFU is functioning normally after the solar array paddle deployment. Data calculation confirmed that the SFU was placed in the designated orbit. The orbit determination is as follows: Apogee Altitude: 336 km Perigee Altitude: 322 km Orbit Inclination: 28.45 degree Period: 1 h 31 m The SFU was found to be functioning normally. NASDA transmitted the apogee kick motor (AKM) firing command of "HIMAWARI-5" at 09:54 AM on March 19 (JST) from Tracking and Control Center at Tsukuba Space Center. The AKM firing and AKM adaptor separation were normal. "HIMAWARI-5" was confirmed to have been successfully moved >From the transfer orbit to the drift orbit. [Info via Yoshiro Yamada @ the Yokohama Science Center] * THANKS! * =========== Thanks to all who sents messages of appreciation to SpaceNews, especially: IW1QH KT2K N2MUC N2RIF KB2MVN F5DGQ KB7OIE KE7TR I apologize for not keeping up with all the e-mail that has been sent and delaying the release of SpaceNews each week, but my workload has increased dramatically since January, leaving little time for anything else. :-( * 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