SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC1130 * SpaceNews 30-Nov-98 * BID: $SPC1130 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY NOVEMBER 30, 1998 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use. * TMSAT-OSCAR-31 NEWS * ======================= TO-31 was offically opened for general amateur use this past weekend. This move allows amateur radio operators to use the store and forward communications transponder on the spacecraft, and also download the high resolution multispectral earth images taken by the satellite. It is hoped that amateur radio operators will take advantage of downloading the high resolution multispectral images available from TO-31 and keep other traffic to a minimum. Due to current limitations with on-board memory, images will only be available on the satellite for a couple of days after they are taken. If other files (especially large files) are uploaded to the satellite, this will ultimately increase the amount of time taken to download images and they may therefore be deleted before they are completed. Unfortunately, the transmitter is still causing some problems and the downlink is not currently operating over most areas. Amateurs in Europe and South-East Asia will find the downlink on most of the time, and it will remain on for between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on the operation of the transmitter. This will allow amateurs in areas close to the command stations to access the satellite, but others will probably find the transmitter off at most times. In the coming weeks, it is hoped that the transmitter will be able to be switched on over more areas to allow many more amateurs to access TO-31. During some of these tests, access may again be limited to command stations only. If at any time the BBS is "SHUT" (as displayed in WiSP etc) please do not attempt to access the satellite as it may delay any commanding that is being undertaken. TO-31 Information Downlink 436.925 MHz, 9600bd FSK Uplink 145.925 MHz, 9600bd FSK BBS Callsign TMSAT1-12 Broadcast Callsign TMSAT1-11 [Info via Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO] * SAREX's 15th ANNIVERSARY * ============================ On 1983-Nov-28, astronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL, was launched into space on STS-9. He brought along the first amateur radio station on a crew-tended space vehicle. Thousands heard Owen's downlink and hundreds had a direct QSO with him. Since that time 15 years ago, the internationally-based human spaceflight amateur radio community has done some pretty tremendous things for amateur radio and for education. Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, of the SAREX Working Group, wishes to thank and congratulate the hundreds of volunteers around the world who have taken the dream that was shared by Owen, the ARRL, AMSAT-NA and NASA, and turned it into a reality that has benefited the world-wide community of radio amateurs as well as students in classrooms. Through the efforts of the individuals belonging to these organizations, we have amateur radio stations that have flown on all Space Shuttles and on Mir, and we are currently on the threshold of installing a permanent amateur radio station on the International Space Station (ISS). On behalf of the SAREX Working Group and as a US Delegate to the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, Frank Bauer looks forward to the continued cooperation of all the international partners that comprise ARISS as we jointly forge a new, exciting future for amateur radio in space. 73, Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO AMSAT-NA, V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs SAREX Working Group US Delegate, ARISS * KITSAT NEWS * =============== KITSAT-OSCAR-25 has returned to normal operation. Alan, WA4SCA, reports that KITSAT-OSCAR-23 seems to be back to normal after recently experiencing some downlink problems, but reports downlink transmitter is now about 6 kHz higher in frequency. * SPUTNIK TELEMETRY SOFTWARE * ============================== Hank Riley, N1LTV, has written a compact windows-based program called "Sputnik telemetry Assistant" that interprets audio frequencies measured from the transmissions made by Sputnik-41, and uses this information to calculate the temperature on-board the tiny satellite. The program does this by interpolating between previously published frequencies and their corresponding temperatures. Results provided are rounded to the nearest tenth of a degree in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. The program is only 8 kilobytes in size (unzipped) and runs under Windows 3.x and higher. The program was developed independent of the Sputnik 41 project management. It has been carefully checked for accuracy, but is not guarenteed to be bug-proof. Hank's program may be retrieved from his HABLIC Web site: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/3161/hablic.htm Look for it in the DOWNLOAD SPECIAL section near the end of the HABLIC front page. Comments may be addressed to Hank at: h1riley@umassd.edu [Info via Hank Riley, N1LTV] * VOXSAT NEWS * =============== AMSAT-LU is in its last phase for the launch of VOXSAT 1, its next satellite for radio amateur worldwide service. VOXSAT 1 will be placed inside a Russian satellite (as AO-21 was), for launch next year. The satellite will carry the following modes: 1 Cross Band FM repeater, (like AO-27), UHF up / VHF down. 2 Parrot UHF up / VHF down. 3 Broadcast Voice, FAX, SSTV, (like Sputnik 41). 4 CW Telemetry (using an FM carrier). The VHF output power for the downlink repeater TX is two watts, and four for the broadcast TX. Further information on VOXSAT 1 may be found at the following URL: http://members.xoom.com/Amsat_LU [Info via Gustavo Carpignano, LW2DTZ, AMSAT-LU Vice President] * 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, KITSAT-OSCAR-25 <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> <<=- Serving the planet (and beyond) since 1987 -=>> /EX