SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0916 * SpaceNews 16-Sep-96 * BID: $SPC0916 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 1996 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use. * UNAMSAT NEWS * ================ David, XE1TU, reports the UNAMSAT team has returned to Mexico City after the lengthy trip by rail and air from Plesesk via Moscow. In spite of suffering significant jet lag they have begun the process of checking out UNAMSAT-B from their command station and lab at the Autonomous University of Mexico. Preliminary indications are that all systems aboard the satellite are working well. One of their firsts tasks is to validate the coefficient file for the telemetry. David reports it will be released as soon as they have validated all parameters. This could take a while as there are numerous channels to be checked out over a period of several orbits. They expect to follow their checkout procedure very carefully and deliberately. David acknowledges the congratulatory messages coming in from the amateur satellite community and thanks everyone for their words of encouragement. David can be reached at xe1tu@amsat.org. Jim White, WD0E Microsat Command * AO-13 RE-ENTRY CORRECTION * ============================= James Miller, G3RUH reports that the earliest AO-13 can re-enter the earth's atmosphere is 03-Dec-96. Explanations for this date are available in the May/June 1995 issue of the AMSAT Journal, or via anonymous FTP at: ftp.amsat.org/amsat/articles/g3ruh/a114.zip In addition, the AO-13 re-entry keps file on the AMSAT ftp site have been updated. They are located at: ftp.amsat.org/amsat/satinfo/ao13/decaykep.zip * FINAL ZRO TESTS * =================== The ZRO Memorial Technical Achievement Award Program, or just "ZRO Test" has a new schedule for September through October 1996, via AMSAT-OSCAR-13. This activity is a test of operating skill and equipment performance. The end of A-O-13 is near, and this will be your last opportunity to participate in a ZRO test! During a typical ZRO run, a control station will send numeric code groups using CW at 10 words-per-minute. At the beginning of the run, uplink power from the control station is set to match the general beacon downlink strength. This is level "zero". The control operator will send and repeat a random five-digit number, then lower his uplink power by 3 dB (half power) and repeat the procedure with a new random number (level "1"). This will continue to a level 30 dB below the beacon (level "A"). A participating listener monitors the downlink signals till he can no longer copy the numbers. Those who can hear the beacon will qualify for the basic award by copying the code group heard at level "zero". The challenge is to improve home-station performance to a point where the lower-level downlink signals can be copied (levels 6 through A). To date, only one station (Darrel Emerson AA7FV) has successfully copied level "A". The following schedule of Mode "B" tests were chosen for convenient operating times and favorable squint angles. Due to the current orbit of A-O-13, choices and coverage for this round of tests were limited. If the spacecraft orientation is significantly changed from the current near-Nadir pointing, the test schedule will be canceled. The tests can be heard on 145.840 MHz. Andy WA5ZIB will conduct all the tests. Day Date (UTC) Time Areas covered Saturday Sept 21, 1996 0345 UTC SW US, SA, S Pac Sunday Sept 22, 1996 0230 UTC S US, SA, S Pac Sunday Sept 29, 1996 0315 UTC SW US, SA, S Pac Sunday Oct 6, 1996 0300 UTC SW US, SA, S Pac Note that the dates and days are shown in "UTC". Any changes will be announced as soon as possible via the AMSAT HF and A-O-13 Operations Nets. All listener reports with date of test and numbers copied should be sent to Andy MacAllister WA5ZIB, AMSAT V.P. User Operations, 14714 Knights Way Drive, Houston, TX 77083-5640. A report will be returned verifying the level of accurate reception. An S.A.S.E. is appreciated but not required. Information about the AMSAT Awards Program can be found on page 197 of the "Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA Tenth Space Symposium" (1992). This paper, covering all the AMSAT-NA awards including specifics on the ZRO Test, was reprinted on page 10 in the March/April 1993 issue of "The AMSAT Journal". The ZRO Test information provided in the article covers test procedures, means for obtaining certificates and gives some historical background about the program. Reprints of the article can be obtained for an S.A.S.E. to WA5ZIB at the address above. If you have Internet access, check the AMSAT Web page at http://www.amsat.org. [Info via Andy, WA5ZIB] * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * =========================== Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below: WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/ PACKET : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, LUSAT-OSCAR-19 <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> /EX