SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-284.01 INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR SATELLITE SYMPOSIUM HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 284.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 11, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-284.01 Very soon, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Amateur Radio operators from around the world will be converging during the weekend of October 16 through the 18th, attending the 16th AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium. A variety of technical papers will be presented on AMSAT's efforts to construct and operate Amateur Radio satellites including: ** Will Marchant, KC6ROL, who will provide a update on building the Amateur Radio system for the International Space Station ** Ron Ross, KE6JAB, will report on his experiences in operating Amateur Radio satellites from Antarctica ** Lou McFadin, W5DID, will provide a progress report on the AMSAT Phase 3D International Satellite ** Bob Twiggs, KM6QDM, will describe construction activities on SAPPHIRE, Stanford University's First Amateur Satellite ** Robert Zee will present AMSAT's role in the MOST Microsatellite Mission, Canada's First Space Telescope Over 250 persons from 17 countries attended last year's AMSAT meeting held in Toronto, Canada. AMSAT is a worldwide group of Amateur Radio Operators who share an active interest in building, launching and then communicating through these non-commercial Amateur Radio satellites. Bill Tynan, W3XO, AMSAT-NA President, says "that by any measure, AMSAT's track record has been impressive. Since its initial founding, over 25 years ago, AMSAT has used predominantly volunteer labor and donated resources to design, construct and, with the added assistance of Government and Commercial space agencies, successfully launch, over thirty Amateur Radio communications satellites into Earth orbit." In addition to its unmanned satellite efforts, AMSAT has also been active in human space and educational activities. Working together with the American Radio Relay League and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, AMSAT volunteers have helped develop new space qualified hardware and have donated their technical communications 'know-how' to a number of flights involving Amateur Radio operation aboard the Space Shuttle. In recent years, Amateur Radio operations aboard the Shuttle, (called SAREX -- short for Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment), have been used to bring school children in a number of countries into direct radio contact with Shuttle astronauts in Earth orbit. [ANS thanks Russ Tillman, K5NRK, Symposium Chair, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-284.02 PASSING THE TORCH HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 284.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 11, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-284.02 In November 1991, the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors asked Bill Tynan, W3XO, to assume the office of Presidency of the organization. Bill accepted the nomination and has been serving in that capacity ever since. Recently, Bill Tynan, W3XO, announced his intention to retire as President and step aside from his AMSAT-NA presidential duties. W3XO told ANS that he intends to formally make his retirement announcement at the upcoming AMSAT Annual Meeting, to be held in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the 16th AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium. Bill also indicated that he would recommend to the AMSAT-NA Board that Keith Baker, KB1SF, is named as his successor. It is the Board's responsibility to name the President, Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President of Engineering and Vice President of Operations. Other officers are then selected by the President at his or her discretion. W3XO noted that Keith Baker, KB1SF, has been servicing as Executive Vice President for a number of years and is well acquainted with the challenges facing the organization. "Keith has been my right hand, in both Phase 3D and other AMSAT matters and is well qualified to serve as President", Tynan said. W3XO also expressed gratitude for all of those who have helped him over the past seven years. "Without the work of many fine people, I would not have been able to carry out my duties as President of this fine organization", he said. "When I became President, I hoped that I would see Phase 3D safely in orbit before I left office. I have maintained that hope and worked toward that goal since that time. But, as we all know, AMSAT suffered a setback with regard to a launch opportunity for the P3D spacecraft. The satellite is essentially complete and is to begin thermal vacuum testing in a few weeks. It will be ready for a launch whenever that can come to pass. Thus, even though Phase 3D is not yet in orbit, I feel that now is a good time for me to step aside as the President of AMSAT-NA," said Tynan. W3XO added "that although there have been times when it has had its frustrations, I have very much enjoyed serving as President of The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. It has, in fact, been one of the high points of my life -- one that I know I will look back on with pride in the years to come." Bill also noted that his decision to step aside does not signify an end to his evolvement with AMSAT. "My term on the Board of Directors runs for another year and I will continue to serve AMSAT as an active Board member. I will also continue to help the organization in whatever way I can, and of course, maintain my active interest in amateur space activities in general", Tynan concluded. [ANS thanks and congratulates AMSAT-NA President Bill Tynan, W3XO, for his hard work and dedication to the high ideals of the AMSAT organizations worldwide] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-284.03 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 284.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 11, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-284.03 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** Russ, K5NRK, reminds those attending the AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium that accommodations at the Battlefield Inn are completely sold out, however, the Battlefield will provide shuttle service from the nearby Hampton Inn and Super 8 Motel. Check the main desk at the Battlefield Inn for details. For those driving into Vicksburg, the talk-in repeater frequency is 147.270 MHz w/100 Hz tone. Those who are flying into the Jackson International Airport may check-in using the 146.940 MHz repeater w/100 HZ tone. This repeater will be linked to the 146.805 repeater located in Vicksburg. Lloyd, K5IMT, will be net control for all VHF operations. There will be an AO-27 media demonstration in the Battlefield Inn parking lot on October 16th -- look for N5JGK, KI0AG and N7SFI who will be using HT's and handheld antennas to work the available AO-27 passes. Also remember to check out the Symposium special events station, N5QDE invites all participants to be guest operators during the event. --Russ, K5NRK ** U.S. Senator and astronaut John Glenn completed a final, full-scale run-through of his upcoming re-entry into space, practicing with six other Space Shuttle Discovery astronauts at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He says he feels just as he did before his first flight in 1962 -- "I was scared to death I was going to catch a cold or something and I feel the same way now." Glenn, 77, will become the oldest human ever to fly in space. The nine-day Discovery mission is set to begin October 29th. --Morrock News Service ** AMSAT Area Coordinator Ron Smith, N5SMJ, reports that at the recent Kansas ARRL Convention; Ron, along with Greg, N0ZHE, gave a brief forum on amateur satellites. Helping was W0OQC, KA0OXY, N0KTA, W0UT and N0TGR. Afterward they went outside to the parking lot to work AO-27 portable, initially working Mike, N1JEZ. Ron reports everyone had a great time with numerous contacts being made. --N5SMJ ** Ken, N1QQV, tells ANS the October/November issue of Air & Space Smithsonian contains some news on an upcoming article about Mir and Amateur Radio. Details of the soon-to-be released article can be found on page 95 of the current issue. N1QQV says "it looks like it will be some good press for Amateur Radio and an interesting article as well." --AMSAT BB ** Peter, DB2OS, reports the official AMSAT-DL Internet web site is now on a new server; it can be reached at http://www.amsat-dl.org. On the new site is the official P3D frequency plan, with additional updates and more information on the site currently planned for the next several weeks. --AMSAT BB ** Bob, WB4APR, reminds everyone Mir is coming over the USA each day during the late afternoon. This month is the ideal time to plan on doing an APRS school demonstration via MIR. Several schools are currently on the air during the passes including the U.S. Naval Academy APRS transmitter. --WB4APR ** KK7KX reports he found an Internet web site that has real time positions of visible satellites and a very nice graphic locator. Check it out at http://www2.gsoc.dlr.de/satvis/. --Assi Friedman, 4X1KX/KK7KX ** Bill, WB5SXK, tells ANS that for those attending the AMSAT Symposium, he can arrange a demonstration of Vicksburg's new public-service digital communications system, an APCO-25 compatible digital voice communications system. If interested, contact Bill by e-mail at billf@vickpfe.ci.vicksburg.ms.us. --AMSAT BB SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-284.04 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 284.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 11, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-284.04 MIR/SAFEX SAFEX II 70 cm Repeater Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz Downlink 437.950 MHz FM Semi-operational. SAFEX II 70 cm QSO Mode Uplink 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz Downlink 437.925 MHz FM Semi-operational. PMS Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK Operational. The PBBS is running a Kantronics KPC-9612 + V.8.1 TNC. The commands are similar to most PBBS and BBS systems. MIREX has announced an on going APRS School Days Test. MIREX is allowing schools to use APRS for position and status reports via R0MIR. Non-school stations are asked to refrain from using APRS type transmissions or beacons via R0MIR. Bob, WB4APR, asks operators to please NOT establish station-to- station connections via Mir -- as it is very inefficient. Bob suggests sending UI packet frames instead, saying that it is much better for everyone, AND many stations can then complete a normal QSO during a Mir pass. [ANS thanks Scott Avery, WA6LIE, and the MIREX team for Mir status information] RS-12 Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.408 MHz Robot Uplink 21.129 MHz Downlink 29.454 MHz Last reported in mode T. RS-13 Uplink 21.260 MHz to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 145.960 MHz to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.460 MHz to 29.500 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 145.960 to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.504 MHz Robot Uplink 21.140 MHz Downlink 29.458 MHz Last reported in mode K. The RS-12 satellite has seen many recent changes in operation during the past weeks. Modes K, T, KT and simultaneous RS-13 operation have all been reported by a number of stations. Noni, YO2DNO, in Timisoara, Romania is active daily on RS-12/13 from the rare grid square of KN05os. He would be glad to set up a schedule; contact Noni at yo2dno@yo2kjo.ampr.org. No official word from the satellite controllers has been received. ANS recommends monitoring each satellite carefully to determine the transponder in operation and which mode it is operating in. RS-12/13 command is now in the hands of Alex Papkov, in Kaluga City, Russia. RS-15 Uplink 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.352 MHz (intermittent) Semi-operational, mode A, using a 2-meter uplink and a 10-meter downlink. Dave, WB6LLO, reports he has prepared a "quick and dirty" set of operating instructions for RS-15 at the following URL: http://users.aol.com/dguimont OSCAR 10 AO-10 Uplink 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB Beacon 145.810 MHz (unmodulated carrier) Semi-operational, mode B, currently in 'sleep' mode. AO-10 is locked into a 70-cm uplink and a 2-meter downlink. W4SM has more information about the satellite at the following URL: http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/AO-10.html [ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM, for his AO-10 status information and web site] AO-27 Uplink 145.850 MHz FM Downlink 436.792 MHz FM Operational, mode J. AO-27 TEPR States are currently: 4 = 36 = 18 Minutes 5 = 72 = 36 Minutes This means AO-27's transmitter turns on 18 minutes after entering the Sun and stays on for 18 minutes. AO-27's transmitter is turned off at all other times during the orbit. N4USI reminds stations that this happens on every orbit, approximately 14 times a day. The current TEPR settings will cause the satellite to be on during the daytime at northern latitudes. [ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control-op for this update] JAS-1b FO-20 Uplink 145.900 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status reports] JAS-2 FO-29 Voice/CW Mode JA Uplink 145.900 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Operational. Digital Mode JD Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK Not operational, the satellite is in JA (voice) mode. Kazu, JJ1WTK, tells ANS that OBC bit error investigation continues and the satellite will remain in voice mode. FO-29 has entered a period of 'full illumination' by the Sun. This illumination period will extend through the end of December. John, K2JF, reports (on a recent pass of FO-29) he called CQ during the entire pass with good downlink signals, yet he cruised the whole band with no other signals to be heard. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-284.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 284.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 11, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-284.05 KITSAT KO-23 Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK Downlink 435.175 MHz FM Operational. The telemetry is nominal. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for this report] KITSAT KO-25 Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK Downlink 436.50 MHz FM Operational. The telemetry is nominal. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for this report] UO-22 Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK Downlink 435.120 MHz FM Operational. More information on the satellite is available at the following URL: http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/ [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, Operations Manager of UO-22 for this report] OSCAR-11 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK Beacon 2401.500 MHz Operational. Two new WOD software packages have recently added to the Oscar 11 web site. The first package enables various WOD channels to be compared with the solar eclipse status of the satellite. The second package compares measured and calculated magnetic fields encountered by Oscar 11. Both packages are of an advanced nature, users will need experience using the other WOD packages on the web site along with a spread-sheet program. The URL is http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ Beacon reception reports should be sent to g3cwv@amsat.org. [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information] PACSAT AO-16 Uplink 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.86 MHz FM 1200 bps Manchester FSK Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB, 1200 bps RC-BPSK 1200 Baud PSK Beacon 2401.1428 MHz Operating normally. The AO-16 command team has authorized an APRS experiment on AO-16 to explore the use of the 1200-baud PACSAT for APRS position/status reporting. Test periods will run each Tuesday from 0000 to 2359 UTC. The telemetry is nominal, however, indications are that the voltage level of the internal batteries are down to limit values. Time is Fri Oct 09 21:26:14 1998 uptime is 1482/15:51:30 +10V Bus 10.075 V RC PSK TX Out 0.616 W +X (RX) Temp -9.683 D RX Temp 5.444 D RC PSK BP Temp -3.027 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -1.817 D +Y Array Temp -24.811 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -1.817 D +Z Array Temp -15.129 D Baseplt Temp 3.024 D Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.453 Ifb= 0.190 I+10V= 0.284 TX:0109 BCR:1E PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:64 General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report] LUSAT LO-19 Uplink 145.84 145.86 145.88 145.90 MHz FM 1200 bps Manchester FSK Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB 1200 bps RC-BPSK Currently semi-operational. Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, reports LUSAT/Oscar-19 ground control station LU8DYF has succeeded in regaining control of the satellite. Downlink signals show good modulation with an ASCII message containing the following text: July 31 - 1998. No BBS service. On Board Computer reload in progress. Digipeater active. Thank you - Norberto - LU8DYF. EA1BCU reminds operators the digipeater mode is "a very interesting option to make contacts with other stations, or to be connected with your own station to evaluate the on-line the state of your installation." The telemetry is as follows: Time is Fri Oct 09 21:41:27 1998 uptime is 070/08:03:51 Total Array C= 0.008 Bat Ch Cur=-0.283 Ifb= 0.119 I+10V= 0.171 TX:017 BCR:1E PWRC:62D BT:3C WC: 0 General information and telemetry samples can find at: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/lo19.htm [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report] ITAMSAT IO-26 Uplink 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM 1200 Baud PSK Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB Semi-operational. Telemetry is reported as being received on 435.822 MHz at 1200 baud PSK. No additional information is available at this time. TMSAT-1 TO-31 Downlink 436.923 MHz The TMSAT-1 micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998. The satellite is expected to be available for general amateur use shortly. [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for this report] TechSat-1B GO-32 Downlink 435.325 435.225 MHz HDLC telemetry framed so a TNC in KISS mode will decode it The TechSat-1B micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998. The satellite is expected to be available for general amateur use shortly. The satellite does not have a continuos beacon, but does transmit a 9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (for about 3 seconds in length), currently on 435.225 MHz. The TechSat team has also constructed a home page about TechSat. To view the site, point your web browser to: http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/ [ANS thanks Shlomo Menuhin, 4X1AS, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-284.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 3 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 284.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 11, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-284.06 THE FOLLOWING SATELLITES ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: RS-16 Attempts to command the mode A transponder 'on' have been unsuccessful to date. At this time the RS-16 transponder is non-operational. The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational. No additional information is available at this time DOVE DO-17 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK Beacon 2401.220 MHz Non-operational. The 145.825 MHz and 2401.220 MHz downlinks are off the air. No additional information is available at this time. WEBERSAT WO-18 Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB 1200 Baud PSK AX.25 Non-operational. WO-18 is reported to be in MBL mode after a software crash. No additional information is available at this time. --ANS END--- Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to ans-editor@amsat.org, (or to) ANS Editor, Dan James, NN0DJ, at nn0dj@amsat.org. /EX