SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-033.01 PERMISSION GRANTED FOR LINENGER HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 033.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 02, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-033.01 US ham-Astronaut Jerry Linenger, KC5HBR, has been granted permission for general QSOs and scheduled school radio contacts with unlicensed students and a control operator. Getting permission involved approval by authorities in the US, Russia and Germany. Miles Mann, WF1F, Director of Educational Services for the Mir International Amateur Radio EXperiment (MIREX), and Dave Larsen, N6CO, director of the MIREX board, signed an agreement on behalf of MIREX, while Sergei Samburov, RV3DR, chief of the Cosmonaut Amateur Radio Department, signed for the Mir Amateur Radio EXperiment (MAREX), and Joerg Hahn, DL3LUM, international coordinator, signed for the German Space Amateur Funk EXperiment (SAFEX) group, which provided the ham equipment aboard Mir. The FCC also has given approval for Linenger (and for Astronaut Colin ''Michael'' Foale, KC5UAC--who will take Linenger's place in May) for general QSOs and third-party traffic with schools, family and friends. Linenger recently arrived on Mir via STS-81. According to Mann, applications for US school QSOs with cosmonauts are approved by MIREX, based on specific guidelines, before being sent on to Samburov and SAFEX. ''The Mir crews have busy work schedules, but our guidelines allow us to arrange--months in advance--school QSOs during crew off hours,'' he explained. The Cosmonaut Amateur Radio Department gives final approval for all QSOs and reserves the right to cancel at any time. Mir's daily experiments always have first priority over ham radio. Because Mir crews now include a US astronaut, SAREX and MIREX have begun to work together. Currently the SAREX program has about 80 schools on its waiting list. To get a Mir school QSO application, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Educational Activities Department, ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington CT 06111. A word on random QSOs with the Mir space station: Mir crews make random voice QSOs only during off hours. Do not ask the crew to schedule QSOs, as they do not have the long-term calendar. The 2-meter Mir frequencies recently were changed: The uplink frequency is 145.200 MHz and the downlink is 145.800 MHz. This change resulted from a recommendation from IARU Region 1 (Europe). Please do not ask the crew about it, as the crew does not set policy on frequencies. [ANS thanks the ARRL for the exciting news update.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-033.02 FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 033.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 02, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-033.02 The 1997 AMSAT-NA annual meeting and space symposium will be held on Oct.17-19,1997 at the Airport Delta Hotel in Toronto, Ont. Canada. This is the first call for papers to authors who wish to present papers at this event. Topics for all amateur satellite disciplines are sought from the AMSAT community. Authors and titles are requested by March 1st with abstracts by June 1st. Final versions are due by August 1st. We also encourage those not able to attend to consider a paper for publication in the Proceedings of the symposium. Submissions and inquiries should be made to: Wayne Chandler, VE3WHC By internet:ve3whc@amsat.org By mail:W.H.Chandler Box.6,Carlisle,Ont.,L0R1H0. Canada. [ANS thanks Wayne Chandler, VE3WHC, for this information.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-033.03 STS-82 VECTOR/ KEP DATA HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 033.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 02, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-033.03 Below is the nominal OMS-2 State Vector and Keplerian Elements for STS-82. The vector data comes from NASA; the orbital parameters were computed from the vector. Remember that STS-82 is NOT a SAREX mission. This file may be read by VEC2TLE version 9648 to update your Keplerian Elements text file. Vector format = 10117 Satellite Name: STS-82 Catalog Number: 99982 Epoch MET: 0.03153560185 0/00:45:24.676 MET EFG E: 9116609.4 ft F: 18998944.1 ft G: -8769364.4 ft Edot: -20995.653319 ft/s Fdot: 6870.409915 ft/s Gdot: -6942.195073 ft/s ndot/2 (drag): 0.00002367612 rev/day^2 nddt/6: 0.00000E+00 rev/day^3 Bstar: 3.60015E-05 1/Earth Radii Elset #: 1 Rev @ Epoch: 1.64921800407 Note that the 99982 Catalog Number is only a temporary designation. Once STS-82 is launched, a permanent Catalog Number and International Designator will be assigned. Launch is scheduled for 11-FEB-97 / 08:56:00 UTC The following Keplerian elements were computed by VEC2TLE from this vector using a 0.5 drag multiplier: STS-82 1 99982U 97042.40375782 .00002368 00000-0 36002-4 0 13 2 99982 28.4692 121.0404 0180089 53.0905 180.6439 15.36921340 16 Satellite: STS-82 Catalog number: 99982 Epoch time: 97042.40375782 Element set: 1 Inclination: 28.4692 deg RA of node: 121.0404 deg Eccentricity: 0.0180089 Arg of perigee: 53.0905 deg Mean anomaly: 180.6439 deg Mean motion: 15.36921340 rev/day Decay rate: 2.36761e-05 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 1 Checksum: 297 VEC2TLE may be downloaded from: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sarex/orbit.html [ANS thanks Ken Ernandes, N2WWD, for this data.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-033.04 WISP32 AND THE KCT/T HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 033.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 02, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-033.04 Roy Welch, W0SL, is uploading to KO-23 a more recent RR.DLL (version 1.13) and RR.INI file for users of WiSP32 for Windows 95. After getting reports from several beta testers who have tested various parameters providing delays in the data strings sent to the FT-736 radio by the KCT, Welch feels that the proper delay parameter is the one in this RR.INI. It is "PreCommandPacing." It provides a user selectable delay just before each command is sent to the radio. Roy Welch believes the previous parameters, CommandDelay and CommandPacing are not as effective as this new one. Therefore, he has removed them from the RR.IN file. They are still available in RR.DLL if you want to experiment, however, Welch expects the PreCommandPacing parameter will be sufficient to permit proper control of the radio updating. Roy suggests that FT-736 users use a value of 50 for a starting point and make adjustments from there. This file has also been posted as RRDLL113.ZIP on the AMSAT ftp site: ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/wisp [ANS thanks Roy Welch, W0SL, for this report.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-033.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 033.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 02, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-033.05 FO-29 Voice/CW (Uplink 145.9-146.0MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9MHz CW/USB) Digital (Uplink 145.85, 145.87, 145.910 MHz FM, Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK) FO-29 is in digital mode at the current time. [ANS thanks, Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK for this update.] MIR: (New frequencies implemented 1 January 1997: Uplink 145.2 MHz FM Downlink 145.8MHz FM) Note, the above split is used for both packet and voice operation. Astronaut Jerry Linenger, KC5HBR, was reported to have worked several stations on Friday 1/31/97 at 1030 UTC, as MIR passed over North America. SAFEX, MIR 70cm Repeater (Uplink 435.750MHz FM, Downlink 437.950MHz FM, Subaudible tone 141.3 Hz) The repeater is back up again and active. RS-12: (Uplink 21.21-21.25MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.41-29.45MHz or 145.91-145.95Mhz CW/SSB) The sat is giving extremely good downlink signals on 2 meters. In this period of poor propagation on 15 m, the T-mode is providing very easy access to the satellite. Interesting DX activity has been spotted in Europe with stations in Egypt, Crete, Cameroon, etc. [ANS thanks Stefano Badessi, PA3FWP, for this report.] RS-10: (Uplink 145.865-145.905MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4MHz CW/SSB) Operating normally. Very busy with lots of QSOs heard over north America and Europe. RS-15 (Uplink 145.858-145.898MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.354-29.394MHz CW/SSB) Be aware that RS-15 has battery charging problems. When the satellite is in the dark it's dead. [ANS thanks Bob Johnson, W7LRD, for this report.] (Hint: If SSB doesn't work for you, try CW. CW is very easy to hear on the downlink!) KO-23 (Uplink 145.85, 145.9MHz FM, Downlink 435.175MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK.) KO-23 Normal operation. The best downlink efficiency is obtained with the downlink frequency set 2.0 KHz low KO-25: (Uplink 145.87MHz FM, Downlink 436.5MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK.) KO-25 Normal operation KO-25 returned to full service on 1/7/97. Operating Normally.. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for his reports on KO-25 and KO-23.] AO-27: (Uplink 145.85MHz FM, Downlink 436.8MHz FM) Jan-06-97 11:26 UTC) It is working normally. [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] As of NOV 2, the AO-27 schedule is as follows: TEPR 4 = 16 = 8 Minutes in Length TEPR 5 = 52 = 18 Minutes in Length TX-3 is on Mid Power during TEPR 5. This will have the TX turn on 8 Minutes after the satellite enters the sun for a duration of 18 Minutes. This is a "back to US Latitudes"operation. N4USI, AO-27's current Command Station sends his thanks all for their messages about the satellite turning on later than expected. He reports he's deliberately letting the "turn on" time drift later (for about 4-5 Minutes) so stations in the southern latitudes can also have a chance to work AO-27. Every few months he will be letting the turn on time drift like this to give more stations a chance to make contacts thru the satellite. [ANS thanks Michael, N4USI , AO-27 Control-op, for this update.] AO-10: (Uplink 435.030-435.18MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 145.975-145.825MHz CW/USB) Operational /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-033.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 033.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, FEBRUARY 02, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-033.06 AMSAT-OSCAR-16 (PACSAT) (Uplink 145.9, 145.92, 145.94, 145.86MHz FM, Downlink 437.0513MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK.) It is working normally. Example of a lit orbit. (Jan-05-97 12:36:03 UTC) The batteries load (About Tot.Bat/V = 10.865 Volts) The RC/PSK TX-OUT= 0.633 - 0.704 Wtts. Example of a nocturnal orbit. (Jan-05-97 23:57:05 UTC) The batteries load (About Tot.Bat/V = 10.433 Volts) The Transponder RC/PSK TX-OUT= 0.760 Watts.. [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] FO-20 (Uplink 145.9-146.0MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9MHz CW/USB) Operating normally. Strong downlink signal. OSCAR-11 (Downlink 145.825MHz. FM, 1200 Baud PSK) During the past month (18 December - 14 January) good, steady signals have been received from OSCAR-11 on 145.826 MHz. [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information.] IO-26 ( ITAMSAT): (Uplink 145.875, 145.9, 145.925, 145.95MHz FM, Downlink 435.822MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK.) Operating normally. TLM values are carried on AMSAT-BB. [ANS thanks Daniele Piercarlo, IK2XRO, ITMSAT Command Station for this report.] DO-17(DOVE) ( Downlink 145.825MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK.) Jim White, WD0E, is in the process of reloading DO-17 again using some new ground software that has some improvements. Dove should be back in normal mode in a few days. The S-band is off right now but should be back on also in a few days. [ANS thanks Jim White, WD0E, for this report.] LUSAT-OSCAR-19 (Uplink 145.84, 145.86, 145.88, 145.9MHz FM, Downlink 437.1528MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25.) It is working excellently in its orbits on Europe. Example of a lit orbit. (Jan-05-97 12:00:44 UTC) The batteries in good state (Tot. Bat/V = 11.08 Volts) The RC/PSK TX-OUT= 1.004 - 1.079 Wtts. [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] WEBERSAT (WO-18) (Downlink 437.104MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25.) Webersat (WO-18) is fully operational broadcasting the following status message: 22-Jan-97 1:35:30 UTC Pacsat, DOVE, Webersat, Lusat -- seven years in space Gathering/Sending Week 1 WOD -- arrays Sending new pictures and spectra 73, KB7KCL & IK3WVJ The "tone" has returned, however at present does not interfere with reception at this QTH. The command team is monitoring. [ANS thanks Tommy Davis, IK3WVJ, for this report.] [Please send your Satellite or News reports to ANS Editor B.J. Arts, WT0N, via e-mail, at bjarts@uslink.net or to wt0n@amsat.org] /EX