SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-125.01 
STS MISSION UPDATE

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 125.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 4, 1996
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-125.01

The Space Shuttle Endeavor is scheduled for launch on mission STS-77 on
16-May-96 at 1032 UTC.  STS-77 will not carry a SAREX package.  The next
mission carrying SAREX will not come until STS-78, currently scheduled for
liftoff on 20-Jun-96 at 1449 UTC.  STS-78 will carry Space Shuttle Columbia
into orbit for a 16 day microgravity mission.  SAREX communications will
include FM voice and packet radio (SAREX configuration `C').  The mission
that follows (STS-79) will also carry SAREX.  STS-79 will utilize Space
Shuttle Atlantis, and is scheduled for launch on 01-Aug-96 at 0342 UTC.
SAREX on this mission will be limited to FM voice contacts only.

STS-77 will be carrying as one of its primary payloads the Spartan
207/Inflatable Antenna Experiment. The objective of this, the eighth
Spartan mission, is to deploy the largest inflatable structure in space
since Echo in the early 60's.  More information on this interesting
experiment can be obtained at:

http://sspp.gsfc.nasa.gov/sp207.html

ANS thanks John A. Magliacane, KD2BD, and SpaceNews for this bulletin

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-125.02 
NEW WEB PAGES P3D

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 125.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 4, 1996
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-125.02

Since last week, there are some new WWW pages concerning the Phase-3D
project on the AMSAT server. Anyone wishing to check them out, will find
them at:

http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/phase3d.html#NEWPAGES

Any bug reports, suggestions or new information are welcome.

ANS thanks Ralf Zimmermann, DL1FDT, for this update.

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-125.03 
AMSAT FRANCE HAS NEW WEB SERVER

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 125.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 4, 1996
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-125.03

AMSAT France is proud to announce the opening of its Internet WEB
server. The URL address is

 http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/amsat_f

Language supported are English and French.  As the web pages are using
frames they are best viewed using NETSCAPE 2.0, however other Internet
surfers are ok. If your program does not support frames (independent
windows) just click on the first sentence referring to Netscape 2.0 to
start the first page. Then, to come back to the preceding page, just click
on the RIGHT mouse button.

AMSAT France internet server presents the Maelle project, a microsat 
being designed by members of the Club Aerospatial Cellois (CAC) and 
members of the Radio Amateur Club de l'Espace (RACE) who participated in 
the design of ARSENE first French mini satellite.  Some pages describe both
clubs history and there are pages referring to other AMSAT servers. A lot
of pictures are included.

Already, more than 200 connection have been recorded after only a few days 
of activity despite the English version of our pages were not already on 
line.

AMSAT-France hopes that everyone will enjoy visiting its internet server.

ANS thanks Bernard Pidoux, F6BVP, AMSAT France President for 
this bulletin.

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-125.04
SATELLITE STATUS

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 125.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 4, 1996
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-125.04

RS-12 operating normally
RS-10 operating normally
"FG5GI has been on RS10 and RS12 towards the end of pass"
AO-27 operating normally

ANS thanks Rusty Hack, NM1K, Amsat Area Coordinator for Connecticut  
for this information about RS-10 ,12 and AO-27.

AO-10 operating normally
AO-13 Sees Eclipse of Sun by Moon
=================================
A partial eclipse of the Sun by the Moon will deprive Oscar-13 of
solar power on 1996 May 17 [Fri] from 0030 to 0225 utc, Orbit 6068, MA
151-195.  Maximum obscuration is 73% at 0135 utc, MA 175.

This event will be visible (in the telemetry) from South Africa,
India, S.E. Asia, and Australia as a substantial drop in solar panel
temperatures, and reduced power production.

The transponders will be OFF during the eclipse period.

Details are also illustrated by a GIF drawing in the Internet file:

  ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/satinfo/ao13/moonecl.zip  (15k)

Otherwise, AO-13 is operating normally

South Pacific stations has been active recently on AO-13 and some on AO-10. 
Tada, C21/JA1WPX, is QRV on Nauru and Aki, TE9RLI, is on Cocos.  Both have
had 55+ signals. Yves, FO3PJ, has also been on from Raiatea.  He's a high
school teacher there, not a DXpedition.  He doesn't have an amplifier so
listen carefully for him.   These stations are often heard calling CQ with
no-one coming back to them.  It's a lot of work to put a satellite station
on from remote locations, and many times the operators must get up in the
middle of the night so we can work them.  KC6DIJ urges, "Let's show them
that we appreciate it."

ANS  thanks James Miller G3RUH for the AO-13 eclipse information and JC
Smith, KC6EIJ, for the AO-10 and AO-13 operating news.

WEBERSAT-OSCAR-18 experienced a software crash at 05:50:11 UTC on
17-Apr-96.  Initial operating software has been reloaded by groundstation
controllers, and the satellite is currently transmitting telemetry, OBC
status, and beacon frames on a downlink of 437.102 MHz using right-hand
circular polarization.  The digipeater is temporarily off the air. 

ANS thanks John A. Magliacane, KD2BD, and SpaceNews for this bulletin on
Webersat.

Please send your Satellite reports to bjarts@uslink.net or to
wt0n@amsat.org

/EX