SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0311 * SpaceNews 11-Mar-96 * BID: $SPC0311 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY MARCH 11, 1996 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited free distribution. * CELESTIAL BBS UPDATE * ======================== The URL for the new WWW site for the Celestial BBS is: http://www.mindspring.com/~tkelso/ This site will be the only source for data and software after 15 March 1996. Current NORAD two-line element sets can be found there and software from this system will be moving there soon. Data will also continue to be available via anonymous ftp from: archive.afit.af.mil (129.92.1.66) in the directory pub/space. Inquiries regarding these systems should be sent to Dr TS Kelso at tkelso@mont.mindspring.com or tkelso@afit.af.mil. [Info via Dr. T.S. Kelso, relayed by Donald Roland, VE1AOE] * GPS TRACKING VIA WO-18 * ========================== Bob Bruninga reminds us that with WEBERSAT-OSCAR-18's digipeater in operation on an uplink of 145.900 MHz using Manchester encoded FSK at 1200 bps, the APRtrak program can be used to periodically transmit your geographical location via WO-18 using packets and will plot the location of other stations using the same technique and software on maps. Bob points out that it's fun to see other stations in the footprint of the satellite pop up on the displayed map. Even if satellites aren't your interest, APRtrak can be run from mobile stations that connect a GPS to one port of your PC, and your TNC to the other port, allowing your moving position will be plotted by all observers. In addition, a keyboard messaging capability exists to allow communications with all other stations without having to establish a connection first. If you only have terrestrial AFSK modems, you might be able to find some APRS activity locally on 145.790 MHz or better yet, 10.1515 LSB to become more familiar with the software and its operation. [Info via Bob Bruninga] * WEBERSAT-OSCAR-18 NEWS * ========================== The digipeater function on WO-18 continues in operation using an uplink of 145.900 MHz. The following status frame was copied from WO-18 by KD2BD in New Jersey on 07-Mar-96: WEBER-1>CAST : 02-Mar-96 *Collecting and Sending WOD Week3: BCR Ch# 21 22 29 2F 33 36 *New Images *Monday, New Spectrum 73, IK3WVJ & KB7KCL * LUSAT-OSCAR-19 NEWS * ======================= The fileserver on LUSAT-OSCAR-19 has been shut down due to what appears to be a directory glitch. The digipeater is also not available. The following packet frames were copied from LO-19 by KD2BD in New Jersey on 07-Mar-96: LUSAT-1>TIME-1 : PHT: uptime is 260/11:59:44. Time is Thu Mar 07 02:04:54 1996 LUSAT-12>BBSTAT : SHUT ABCD: LUSAT-11>STATUS : B: 141170999 LUSAT-1>AMARG : March 5. File server is off. El BBS no esta disponible. Norberto - LU8DYF. * STS-76 SAREX NEWS * ===================== Amateur (or "ham") Radio operators from around the world will point their antennas at the sky during the upcoming shuttle mission, STS-76. Many of them hope to make radio contact with the astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Some of these amateurs have volunteered to assist student groups that have prepared questions to ask the astronauts via the ham radio airwaves. The project is called the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment, or SAREX. The astronauts will use a transceiver aboard the shuttle, on frequencies used by ham radio operators, to talk directly with large groups of students. They'll demonstrate to young people, teachers, parents and communities how Amateur Radio energizes students about science, technology, and learning. To operate Amateur Radio from the space shuttle, one or more of the astronauts needs to have an Amateur Radio license. Astronaut Richard A. Searfoss will serve as the shuttle's Pilot, and has Amateur Radio call sign KC5CKM. Searfoss last operated SAREX from the Space Shuttle Columbia during mission STS-58 in October/November 1993. This will be his second shuttle flight. Linda M. Godwin is N5RAX, and will serve as a Mission Specialist. Her third shuttle flight, Godwin used ham radio aboard the shuttle Atlantis during STS-37 in April 1991, and from aboard Endeavour during STS-59 in April 1994. Ronald M. Sega is KC5ETH, and is also a Mission Specialist. Sega used SAREX from Discovery during the first joint US/Russian shuttle mission, STS-60, in February 1994. The remaining crew members include Commander Kevin P. Chilton, and Mission Specialists Shannon W. Lucid and Michael R. Clifford. During the mission, the shuttle will rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir. Later, the shuttle will return to Earth, leaving Shannon Lucid with Mir for a 5 month stay aboard the Russian complex. Amateur Radio has been flying aboard the shuttles since 1983. Launch is scheduled for March 21, 1996 at 0834 UTC (3:34 AM EST) from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Landing is scheduled for March 30, 1995 at 1707 UTC (12:07 AM EST) at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. This is a 9 day mission. The launch will place the shuttle into Earth orbit at an altitude of 196-245 statute miles (315-394 km) and an inclination of 51.6 degrees. NASA's intent in making astronauts available for SAREX operations is to involve the largest possible numbers of people, particularly students, in technology and the US space program with the help of Amateur Radio. During SAREX missions, the astronauts will typically make the following types of Amateur Radio contacts: Scheduled radio contacts with schools. Random radio contacts with the Amateur Radio community. Personal contacts with the astronauts' families. CREW MEMBERS (and Amateur Radio call signs): Kevin P. Chilton, Commander Richard A. Searfoss, Pilot, KC5CKM Shannon W. Lucid, Mission Specialist, (awaiting license) Linda M. Godwin, Mission Specialist, N5RAX Michael R. Clifford, Mission Specialist Ronald M. Sega, Mission Specialist, KC5ETH During the STS-76 mission, the Space Shuttle Atlantis will make its third of seven shuttle flights to Mir, an effort known as Phase 1, the precursor to building the International Space Station. During most SAREX missions, many of the crew members will make random contacts with earth-bound hams. They make these contacts during their breaks, before and after meal time, and during their pre-sleep time. In fact, over the past years the astronauts have contacted thousands of amateurs around the world. Since this flight is a shuttle-Mir docking mission, and SAREX and Mir Amateur Radio stations usually share the same downlink frequency (145.55 MHz), the SAREX Working Group has decided to use the following frequencies during this mission. The crew will use separate receive and transmit frequencies. PLEASE do not transmit on the shuttle's DOWNLINK frequency! The DOWNLINK is your receiving frequency. The UPLINK is your transmitting frequency. FM Voice Downlink: 145.84 MHz FM Voice Uplink: 144.45, 144.47 MHz The crew will not favor either uplink frequency, so your ability to communicate with SAREX will be the "luck of the draw." Transmit only when the shuttle is within range of your station, and when the shuttle's station is on-the-air. The FM voice call signs that will be used on STS-76 include KC5CKM, N5RAX, and KC5ETH. Reception reports and QSLs should be sent to ARRL EAD, STS-76 QSL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494, USA. Include the following information in your QSL or report: STS-76, date, time in UTC, frequency and mode. In addition, you must also include a SASE using a large, business-sized envelope if you wish to receive a card. The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club in Massachusetts has generously volunteered to manage the cards for this mission. The SAREX hardware will be flown in configuration M. Configuration M uses the shuttle/Mir VHF transceiver for FM voice radio contacts. During final approaches to the Mir Space Station, a VHF transceiver is used by the shuttle Commander to radio the Mir crew by ship-to-ship communications, providing shuttle status and keeping them informed of major events from that point on, including confirmation of contact, capture and conclusion of damping. This same VHF transceiver is used by the crew for SAREX activities during shuttle/Mir docking missions. [Info via N1OHJ] * THANKS! * =========== Thanks to all who sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews, especially: N1IZD VK2KTJ AA6KC KB7WFO Mark Conway * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * =========================== Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below: FAX : 1-908-747-7107 FTP : pilot.njin.net cd to /pub/SpaceNews WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/ PACKET : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org, 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