SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-017.01 SUNSAT Delta Launch Postponed HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 017.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 17,1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-017.01 Saturday January 16 - LAUNCH OF AIR FORCE DELTA 2 ROCKET POSTPONED UNTIL TUESDAY. An Air Force Delta 2 rocket loaded with a trio of research satellites will remain on earth until at least tuesday following today's scrubbed launch attempt at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Following a weather briefing today, officials made the decision to reschedule the mission for Tuesday during a window of 5:39:52 to 5:48 am. EST (1039:52-1048 UTC). The postponement to tuesday was based on the need for crew rest and the unlikely improvement in wind conditions over the next day or two, officials said. Today's attempt was halted because of three problems. As was the case Friday, upper level winds were out of limits. Also, the Range was red because of predictions that indicated winds could blow debris from a launch accident outside the safety zone, and a problem with a command destruct transmitter at a downrange tracking station. The two stage Boeing rocket is carrying the Air Force's Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite as its primary payload. Two smaller spacecraft, Denmark's Orsted and South Africa's SUNSAT, are also hitching a ride into low Earth orbit on Delta 226. [ANS thanks Cliff K7RR and Space on line for this information.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-17.02 Miami Hamboree Volunteers Needed HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 017.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 17, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-017.02 The Miami Tropical Hamboree is quickly approaching (February 6-7,1999) and we're looking for volunteers to help man the AMSAT booth at the Hamboree. The Hamfest will be held at the Fair Expo Center, SW 112th Avenue & Coral Way (sw 24th Street). Miami is a major hamfest with strong attendance from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America as well as the Southeast US. We need folks to volunteer for a 'tour of duty' during a portion of the Hamboree. In addition to the exhibit, the hamfest committee has scheduled an AMSAT Forum for the Saturday Afternoon (1500-1600. Check the Hamfest program guide for particulars. If you are interested in helping out (even if for only an hour), please send Barry Baines an E-Mail (wd4asw@amsat.org) and let him know: 1) What hours are you willing to volunteer (multiples of 1 hour) on Saturday (0900-1700) and/or Sunday (0900-1500) 2) Your name and callsign and E-Mail address. 3) Any Special Skills in Software, Hardware etc. Miami is a unique opportunity to represent AMSAT to an International audience. If at all possible please consider giving us a hand during this event. [ANS Thanks Barry Baines for this information.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-017.03 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 017.3 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 17, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-017.03 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 w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz Downlink 437.925 MHz FM Semi-operational PMS Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK Semi-operational due to SSTV transmissions. 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 ongoing 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. Scott, WA6LIE, has a set of instructions on how to work the MIR space station. Copies of the instructions are available from Scott by e-mail at wa6lie@juno.com, or by packet at wa6lie@wa6lie.#wcca.ca.usa.noam. [ANS thanks Scott Avery, WA6LIE and the MIREX team for MIR status information.] Radio Sport 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 to be semi-operational, Beacon only Radio Sport RS-13 Uplink 21.260 to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 145.960 to 146.000 MHZ CW/SSB Downlink 29.460 to 29.500 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 145.960 to 146.000 MHZ CW/SSB Beacon 29.504 Robot Uplink 21.140 MHz Downlink 29.458 MHz Last reported in mode KA with a 10 meter downlink and a 15 meter and 2 meter uplink. The RS-12/13 satellite has seen many recent changes in operational status. Modes K, T, KT and now KA operation have all been reported by a number of stations. No official word from the Russian 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. Radio Sport 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 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) Operational, Mode B. AO-10 is locked into a 70-cm Uplink and a 2-meter downlink. AO-10 continues to function well with the periodic deep QSB, which can be partially eliminated by switching antenna polarization. Strong signals have been hears even at apogee. Also note that AO-10's apogee has passed its most northern point. This gives the satellite track (on a rectangular Mercator map projection) a distinctly symmetrical pattern. The apogee has now begun a slow migration southward. W4SM tells ANS that he has, using ranging software (and hardware) developed by James Miller, G3RUH, recently made ranging measurements on AO-10 and have fed these measurements into an algorithm, which generates modified Keplerian elements from a "seed" set of elements. The Keplerian elements generated appear to be accurate to within 16 - 25 km. Satellite: AO-10 Catalog number 14129 Epoch time 99011.95911000 Element set 4 Inclination 27.1123 deg RA of node 48.7076 deg Eccentricity 0.6010746 Arg of Perigee 281.7573 deg Mean Anomaly 69.6767 deg Mean Motion 2.05864167 rev/day Decay Rate 0.00000e+00 rev/day^2 Epoch rev 11717 checksum 272 AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 99011.95911000 .00000000 00000-0 55544-5 0 41 2 14129 27.1123 48.7076 6010746 281.7573 69.6767 2.05864167117171 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 status information and web site.] AO-27 Uplink 145.850 MHz FM Downlink 436.792 Mhz FM Operational Mode J [ANS Thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, for AO-27 information] JAS-1b FO-20 Uplink 145.900 to 146.000 CW/LSB Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 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 146.000 CW/LSB Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 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. The present JA mode of operation will continue while investigating the frequency of bit errors in the on-board computer. Reports from Amateurs on the value of channel 2A are appreciated. The position of 2A is the 5th item after 'Hi Hi' in CW telemetry. The normal Value is '00'. Reports should be sent to lab@jarl.or.jp. The FO-29 command team says digital (JD) mode operation may be available soon. Digi-talker operation is also being planned. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, and John G7HIA for this report] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-017.04 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 017.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 17, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-017.04 KITSAT KO-23 Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 435.175 MHz FM Operational Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-23 is operational, returning to full service on January 4th. KyungHee Kim, on behalf of the KITSAT command team, reported to ANS that the downlink transmitter on KO-23 was tripped recently. He reports the problem has happened several times for unknown reasons. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for KO-23 status information] KITSAT KO-25 Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK Downlink 436.500 MHz FM Operational [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for KO-25 status information] UO-22 Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK Downlink 435.120 MHz FM Operational Chris, G7UPN, Tells ANS that the OBC186 flight software on UO-22 crashed recently after operating for well over 500 days. The software re-load has now been completed. More Information on the satellite is available at the following URL: http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT [Chris Jackson, G7UPH / ZL2TPO, is the Operations Manager of UO-22] OSCAR-11 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK Beacon 2401.500 MHz Operational Telemetry has been nominal. The Mode-S beacon is ON, transmitting an unmodulated carrier, but telemetry indicates that it has partially failed, and delivering half power. This beacon is a useful source for those testing mode-S converters, prior to the launch of Phase 3D. The 435.025 MHz beacon is normally OFF. More information about OSCAR 11 can be found at the following URL: 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 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.96 MHz FM 1200 bps Manchester FSK Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB,1200 bps RC-BPSK 1200 Baud PSK Beacon 2401.1428 Operational 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. Telemetry is nominal. General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at: http://www.ctv.es./USERS/ea1bcu Telemetry WOD graphics corresponding to Dec-30 can be found at: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/wod1.htm A complete collection of WOD graphics corresponding to the year of 1998 can be found at: http://www.ctv.es./USERS/ea1bcu/wod1998.zip [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report] LUSAT LO-19 Uplink 145.840 145.860 145.880 145.900 FM 1200 bps Manchester FSK Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB 1200bps RC-BPSK Currently semi-operational No BBS service, OBC (on board computer) reload in progress. The Digipeater is active. General information and Telemetry samples can be found 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 FM 1200 Baud Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB Semi operational Telemetry is reported as being received on 435.822 MHz at 1200 Baud PSK. ANS has not received any recent updates concerning the status of IO-26. No additional information is available at this time. TMSAT-1 TO-31 Uplink 145.925 MHz 9600 Baud FSK Downlink 436.925 MHz 9600 Baud FSK TMSAT-1 is now open for general access by Amateur Radio Operators worldwide. Normal access will allow operators to use the store and forward communications on the spacecraft and also down load the high resolution multispectral images. Chris, G7UPN tells ANS that during software loading (and other command activities) ground control stations may close the satellite BBS to general users. This ensures that the command activity is not obstructed or slowed by user traffic. This also allows ground control stations to complete these activities much quicker. [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, for this report] Techsat-1B GO-32 Downlink 435.325 435.225 MHz HDLC telemetry framed so that 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. ANS has nor received any recent updates concerning the current status of GO-32 and no additional information is available at this time. The satellite does not have a continuous beacon, but does transmit a 9600 burst every 30 seconds (for a continuous 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] SEDSAT SO-33 Downlink 437.910 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions. Sedsat-1, signifying Students for the Exploration and Development of Space Satellite number one, was successfully launched into orbit on October, 24 1998. Sedsat is continuing to perform as it has since launch, transmitting telemetry until the batteries are depleted and then going into safe mode (for about 10 hours) and then repeating the process. "The orbital geometry is such that we have had as much as 120 hours of continuous operation from the bird before the batteries die," said Dennis KD4ETA. Recovery efforts continue. For more information on SEDSAT-1, including Version 1.2 of the SEDSAT ground station Software -- visit the satellite website at the following URL: http://www.seds.org/sedsat [ANS thanks Dr. Mark Maier, KF4YGR, for this information] PANSAT PO-34 Downlink Frequency not yet established. The satellite is not yet currently available for uplink Transmissions. PANSAT, developed by the Naval Postgraduate School, was launched from shuttle Discovery. Pansat spread-spectrum digital transponders will be available to amateur radio operators in the near future along with software to utilize this technology. The PO-34 command station is located in Monterey California. Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, PANSAT Project Manager recommends 'The ARRL Spread Spectrum Sourcebook' as a good place to start in understanding the spread spectrum scheme. The PANSAT team does not expect the satellite to be available to the Amateur Radio Community for another few months. For more information, visit the official PANSAT web site at: http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/pansat [ANS thanks Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-017.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 3 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 017.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 17, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-017.05 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. RS-18/ Sputnik 41 Russian cosmonauts successfully launched RS-18/Sputnik 41 on November 10 1998, during a space walk from the MIR space station. The satellite stopped transmitting early on December 11,1998 meeting the 30 day projected lifetime. If the Goddard Space Flight Center forecast is correct, RS-18/Sputnik 41 should have re-entered and burned up in the atmosphere on January 7, 1999. A computer .WAV file of the actual received signal can also be found at: http://www.ik1sld.org/sputnik41.htm F6FAO suggests the following address for RS-18 QSL requests AMSAT-France RS-18 QSL Manager 14 bis rue des Gourlis 92 500 Rueil-Malmaison France The list of received QSLs by the French QSL Manager is available at the following Link (Note the list changes daily as cards are received): http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ascerland/sp41QSL.htm DOVE DO-17 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK Beacon 2401.220 MHz Non operational Dove stopped transmitting in March 1998. The 145.825 MHz and 2401.220 MHz downlinks are off the air and the satellite has not responded to ground station control. Command stations will again attempt contact in the near future. QSL cards for receiving DOVE (when the satellite is operating) may be obtained from: Dianne White, N0IZO 45777 Rampart Road Parker, Colorado 80138-4316 Dianne has received a few cards recently for what apparently is UO-11. 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 /EX