SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-108.01 UOSAT-12 LAUNCH IMMINENT AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 108.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 18, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-108.01 Chris Jackson, G7UPN, tells ANS that "UoSAT-12 is due to be launched aboard a converted Soviet SS-18 ICBM missile very soon." The launch, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, could take place as early as the week of April 19th. UoSAT-12 is the latest satellite from the University of Surrey. The amateur package was built by the University's UoSAT team as a research satellite (along the lines of UO-9, UO-11, UO-14, UO-15 and UO-22). UoSAT-12 carries a number of imaging payloads (with up to 10-meter image resolution) along with digital store-and-forward communications in both the VHF and UHF band segments. Mode L/S transponders will also be supported with a high-speed digital downlink. Chris reports the satellite is considerably larger than UO-22 or TO-31 and carries a propulsion system for orbital housekeeping experiments. The imaging system comprises a panchromatic imager and a multispectral imager along with a wide-angle color camera. The S-band downlink can run at speeds up to 1Mb per second for downloading imaging data, and can also be used as an L/S analog (voice) transponder. L/S frequencies are selectable via groundstation command. Chris reports the L/S payload consumes "an awful lot of power", which means the transponder will be subject to on/off times following a published schedule. UoSAT-12 will be placed into a 640km by 66-degree inclination orbit. During the initial orbits the satellite will be transmitting 9600 baud FSK telemetry framed in a VLSI format using a downlink frequency of 437.400 MHz. G7UPN promises "more information in the form of regular postings as things progress to launch", telling ANS "there's still a lot of work to do and not much time to get it all done." In addition, a dedicated UoSAT-12 web site with more information will soon be available. In the interim, John, G0ORX, reports preliminary UoSAT-12 data can be found at: http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/CSER/UOSAT/missions/uo12/index.html [ANS thanks Chris G7UPN / ZL2TPO, and the University of Surrey, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-108.02 14TH AMSAT-UK COLLOQUIUM AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 108.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 18, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-108.02 Richard Limebear, G3RWL, has announced that the 14th AMSAT-UK Colloquium, also known as SpaceComm '99, will be held at Surrey University, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom. The Colloquium will run from July 23rd through July 25, 1999. AMSAT-UK invites authors to submit papers about amateur radio space and associated activities for this event and for the Proceedings document, which will be published at the same time. G3RWL reports they normally prefer authors to present papers, but also welcome unpresented papers for the event. AMSAT-UK also invites anyone with requests for program topics (especially topics for beginners) to submit them as soon as possible to G3RWL. Offers of Papers should be submitted as soon as possible with the final date for full documents currently set as mid-June 1999 (in order that the Proceedings document is available to participants). Submissions should be sent to G3RWL, via the following routes: Internet e-mail: g3rwl@amsat.org Packet Radio: G3RWL @ GB7HSN.#32.GBR.EU Satellite: Oscar 16/22/25 Terrestrial mail: R W L Limebear G3RWL 60 Willow Road Enfield EN1 3NQ United Kingdom. AMSAT-UK will also be offering sessions specifically for satellite beginners. There will be two identical sessions during the event. Colloquium booking information is expected to issue shortly. [ANS thanks Richard Limebear, G3RWL, Colloquium Program Organizer for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-108.03 NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 108.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 18, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-108.03 ARRL Headquarters has issued a hearty thank you and a tip of a ten-gallon hat to all amateur radio volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 18-24, 1999. According to the ARRL "our great hobby is even greater because of volunteer dedication and the many types of efforts they put forth. Volunteer activities start with planting the seed about amateur radio and continue in assisting with earning a license to encouraging a ham's interest in any and every aspect within amateur radio." In the realm of public service, ham radio volunteers serve admirably to provide emergency communication and assistance of all types during disasters and emergencies everywhere. For disaster victims, amateur radio volunteers often have provided a link with the outside world when other systems failed, easing the plight of victims and helping affected communities to recover. ANS would like to echo the League comments. AMSAT is truly a volunteer organization and could not exist without the dedicated efforts of many hardworking people. ANS alone receives weekly information from several satellite operators who help AMSAT News Service with news and information about our wonderful aspect of amateur radio. Without the activities of these volunteers, ANS would not exist! ANS editor Dan James, NN0DJ, would like to thank each and every one of the many amateur radio satellite operators that help with this important task. /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-108.04 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 108.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 18, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-108.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** AMSAT Net of the week: the TRW/Space Hams International Net. This net meets on the 145.320 MHz Los Angles repeater each Thursday evening. Stan, W6EKK, and Ronnie, N6SHI, handle net control duties. The net provides information on how to contact the space shuttle, Mir, satellites and also updates the ISS project along with helping hams in visually sighting Mir, ISS and Iridium flares. ** AMSAT-NA's Martha Saragovitz tells ANS that Tom Clark, W3IWI, recently had heart by-pass surgery. Thankfully, Martha reports Tom did well in surgery and is recovering. Well wishes can be sent to Tom at: tac@clark.net. -ANS ** ANS principal satellite investigator Mike, N1JEZ, is updating his 'Amateur Satellite Resource Guide'. Mike is asking two questions - what is your favorite satellite tracking page on the web and do you operate an AO-27 gateway or re-transmit the AO-27 downlink signal for hams in your area to hear? Drop Mike an e-mail with the details at: n1jez@amsat.org. -ANS ** With the current March/April AMSAT Journal issue in distribution, the May/June plans are underway. Featured articles will include 'AMSAT-NA 30th Anniversary Interview', 'A Modest but Effective AO-10 Antenna', 'A Chat with Andy Thomas', 'Don't Fear the LEO's', 'US/Mir QSL', 'Mir Day at Seminary Hill School' and 'AMSAT Field Day Plans'. ANS reminds amateurs that an AMSAT-NA membership includes the AMSAT journal. -Russ, K5NRK ** Looking for visible satellites? Dave, WB6LLO, knows a web site that can help. Dave tells ANS that all you need to do is enter your location and all of the visible satellites for your location are presented along with a wealth of information, including predictions for convenient viewing times. The URL is: http://www2.gsoc.dlr.de/scripts/satvis/satvis.asp. -Dave, WB6LLO ** ISS flight control teams in Moscow and Houston turned their attention from system monitoring to system testing in preparation for the next visit of a space shuttle to the orbiting outpost. Teams are testing the station power system as part of preparations for the arrival of Discovery and the STS-96 crew in late May. -NASA ** NASA Space Shuttle Program Manager Tommy Holloway has been named manager of the International Space Station Program, replacing Randolph Brinkley, who is departing NASA to pursue opportunities in the private sector. Ronald Dittemore, a 22-year veteran of the Space Shuttle Program, has been named to replace Holloway as Space Shuttle Program manager. -NASA ** The FCC is advising applicants for reciprocal operating permits that an application is no longer required. The new rules also will pave the way for U.S. hams to more easily operate in most of Europe. -ARRL ** NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft executed an automatic response to place itself in a 'contingency' mode after a hinge that allows the spacecraft's high-gain telecommunications antenna to point toward Earth stopped moving as planned. Flight controllers at JPL in Pasadena and Lockheed Martin in Denver are in the process of diagnosing the problem to determine when the antenna stopped moving. -NASA ** The next generation space telescope will look deeper into space as astronomers plan the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. Their goal is to build a new Hubble that will be quite different from the venerable 9-year-old observatory, whose cosmic discoveries have made most astronomy reference books obsolete. Plans including a deep elliptical orbit, a mirror that will be much bigger and with advanced instruments. The Next Generation Space Telescope (NGT) will be up to 1,000 times more sensitive than any existing or planned observatory. NGT could launch by 2007 or 2008. -Larry Wheeler/Florida Today ** Some doorstep astronomy from ANS: Venus is the brilliant evening star shining in the west during and after dusk, also Mars is now at its best! The red planet shines bright orange low in the southeast at nightfall. It's at a good, high altitude for telescopic observing. Mars currently appears as the biggest we'll see it for another two years. -Sky & Telescope --ANS BULLETIN END--- SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-108.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 108.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 18, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-108.05 MIR SAFEX II 70-cm Repeater Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz Downlink 437.950 MHz FM Seldom-operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed. MIR SAFEX II 70-cm QSO Mode Uplink 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz Downlink 437.925 MHz FM Seldom-operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed. MIR PERSONAL MESSAGE SYSTEM (PMS) Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK Semi-operational. Ernie, KF4IHX, tells ANS that during the past week the Mir PMS system has been active, including several stations digipeating through Mir. KF4IHX reports Cuban station C07SD was connected to R0MIR on the night of April 13th. The PBBS is running a Kantronics KPC-9612+ V 8.1 TNC. The commands are similar to most PBBS and BBS systems. AMSAT-France announced that Air Force General Jean-Pierre Haignere has been given a personal amateur radio callsign to use aboard the Mir space station - FX0STB. The QSL manager for FX0STB is: Radio Club F5KAM QSL manager MIR 22 rue Bansac 63000 Clermont Ferrand France Scott, WA6LIE, has a set of instructions on how to work the Mir space station. Copies are available from Scott by e-mail at: wa6lie@juno.com (or by packet) wa6lie@wa6lie.#wcca.ca.usa.noam [ANS thanks Scott Avery, WA6LIE, and the MIREX team for Mir status information] RADIO SPORT RS-12 Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 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 Robot 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 MHz Robot Uplink 21.140 MHz* Robot Downlink 29.458 MHz Operational. Last reported in mode KA with a 10-meter downlink and a 15-meter and 2-meter uplink. * Andy, G0SFJ, tells ANS the RS-13 robot uplink may have moved to 145 MHz (from 15-meters). G0SFJ reports RS-13 is currently sending 'CQ CQ de RS-13 QRU 145840 kHz'. Jerry, K5OE, reports working AMSAT-NA President, Keith, KB1SF, via RS-13. John, K2JF, has been active in the RS-13 CW passband. Ernie, KF4IHX, reports very high activity on RS-13 "even during the week." 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 a 2-meter uplink and a 10-meter downlink. The 29.380 MHz SSB 'meeting frequency' used by most RS-15 operators is showing good results. 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/sat.txt 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. AO-10 has been locked into a 70-cm uplink and a 2-meter downlink for several years. John, M1BTR, reports some FMing still evident on the downlink, as does Jerry, K5OE. Mike, N1JEZ, the ANS principal satellite investigator, reports working CX6DD. Jeff, KB2WQM, has been active on AO-10. Look for AO-10 downlink signals to improve. 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] AMRAD AO-27 Uplink 145.850 MHz FM Downlink 436.795 MHz FM Operational, mode J. The TEPR (Timed Eclipse Power Regulation) states on AO-27 were reset by Chuck, KM4NZ, on 13-April-99. They currently are: TEPR 4 is 34 and TEPR 5 is 70. Al, XE2YVW, is looking for North Dakota via AO-27. Al recently activated rare grid square EK16, 200 miles from the Guatemalan border on AO-27. [ANS thanks Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ, and Michael Wyrick, N4USI, for AO-27 information] JAS-1b FO-20 Uplink 145.900 to 146.000 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 MHz CW/USB Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously. Brian, N3MIQ, reports working IW2MEX via FO-20. [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 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 MHz CW/USB Semi-operational, rotated with digital mode and digi-talker. Digital Mode JD Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK Digitalker 435.910 MHz Semi-operational, rotated with analog mode and digi-talker. Kazu, JJ1WTK, reported to ANS that the new operational schedule announced by the JARL is as follows: April 12 - April 27 mode JA April 28 - May 06 digitalker May 07 - May 17 mode JA May 17 - May 24 mode JD 1200 baud PSK mailbox May 24 - May 31 mode JA [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-29 status reports] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-108.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 108.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 18, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-108.06 KITSAT KO-25 Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 436.500 MHz FM Operational. Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-25 is performing well under heavy usage with good downlink efficiency. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for KO-25 status information] UOSAT UO-22 Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 435.120 MHz FM Operational. Carol, W9HGI, reports UO-22 is performing within acceptable limits. W9HGI operates the West Coast Packet Satellite Gateway (WSPG) for the Worldwide Packet Network (WPN). More information on the satellite is available at the following URL: http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/ [ANS thanks Carol Byers, W9HGI and Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for UO-22 status information] OSCAR-11 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 baud AFSK Mode-S Beacon 2401.500 MHz Operational. Clive, G3CWV, reports during the period 16-March to 15-April-1999 good signals have been received from the 145.826 MHz beacon. The battery voltage during daylight passes has decreased (particularly towards the end of the reporting period). The average value is 13.6 volts, with 13.3 volts recorded on one occasion. A quick look at the current Whole Orbit Data (WOD) survey shows the battery voltage varying between 13.4 and 14.1 volts during sunlight, and a steady decrease to 12.3 volts during the eclipse period. The internal temperatures have decreased slightly and are now 4.0C and 2.2C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. The operating schedule is unchanged. ASCII status (210 seconds) ASCII bulletin (60 seconds) BINARY SEU (30 seconds) ASCII TLM (90 seconds) ASCII WOD (120 seconds) ASCII bulletin (60 seconds) BINARY ENG (30 seconds) The ASCII bulletin is currently a static message, detailing modes and frequencies of all the amateur radio satellites. There are additional status blocks after each bulletin is transmitted, and between ASCII TLM and WOD. The 2401 MHz mode-S beacon is on, transmitting an unmodulated carrier, but telemetry indicates that it has partially failed and is delivering half power output. Any reports of reception on 2401 MHz should be sent to g3cwv@amsat.org. Listeners to OSCAR-11 may be interested in visiting the G3CWV web site. The site contains details of the hardware and some software for capturing OSCAR-11 data and decoding ASCII telemetry and WOD. There is also an archive of raw data (mainly WOD) for analysis, which is continually expanded as new data is captured. Audio files are also included with examples of each type of data transmitted by the satellite (each one plays for about ten seconds). Examples of mode-S reception can also be found at the site. All the audio files are zipped so that they can be played off-line. The URL is: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for OSCAR-11 status information] PACSAT AO-16 Uplink 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.86 MHz FM using 1200 baud Manchester FSK Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK Mode-S Beacon 2401.1428 MHz Operating normally with the exception of the mode-S beacon, which is currently off. Telemetry is as follows: Time is Sat Apr 17 21:56:27 1999 uptime is 1672/16:17:55 +10V Bus 10.750 V +X (RX) Temp -12.104 D RX Temp 0.603 D Baseplt Temp 2.419 D RC PSK BP Temp -3.027 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -3.027 D +Y Array Temp -18.155 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -3.027 D +Z Array Temp -19.365 D RC PSK TX Out 0.534 W Total Array C= 0.173 Bat Ch Cur=-0.040 Ifb= 0.017 I+10V= 0.281 TX:010B BCR:6C PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC: 0 General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu 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 AO-16 status information] LUSAT LO-19 Uplink 145.84 145.86 145.88 145.90 MHz FM using 1200 baud Manchester FSK Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK Currently semi-operational. No BBS service - EA1BCU and ANS have not received any updated information for several months. The digipeater is active. Telemetry is as follows: Time is Sat Apr 17 23:00:29 1999 uptime is 260/09:25:51 +10V Bus 10.668 V +X (RX) Temp -8.844 D RX Temp 1.252 D Baseplt Temp 1.252 D RC PSK TX Out 0.630 W Total Array C= 0.008 Bat Ch Cur=-0.280 Ifb= 0.122 I+10V= 0.168 TX:017 BCR:1E PWRC:62D BT:3C WC: 0 General information and telemetry samples can be found at: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/lo19.htm [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for LO-19 status information] TMSAT-1 TO-31 Uplink 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK Downlink 436.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK Operational. Chris, G7UPN, reported to ANS that the OBC flight software on TMSAT crashed some time on the morning of 16-April. The reload began immediately and is now completed. ProcMail V2.00G has been released by G7UPN. This software permits the processing of image files from TO-31. It has been posted to the AMSAT-NA FTP site at the following URL: www.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/wisp [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for TO-31 status information] PANSAT PO-34 Uplink/downlink frequencies have not been established. The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions. PanSat, developed by the Naval Postgraduate School, was launched from the shuttle Discovery during STS-95. PanSat spread-spectrum digital transponders will be available to amateur radio operators in the near future along with software to utilize this technology. Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, PanSat Project Manager recommends 'The ARRL Spread Spectrum Sourcebook' as a good place to start in understanding the spread-spectrum scheme. 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] SUNSAT SO-35 Uplink/downlink frequencies have not been established. The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions. At this time the command team is planning general amateur radio service in the near future. SunSat was launched February 23, 1999 aboard a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. SunSat stands for Stellenbosch University Satellite and takes it name from the South African university whose students constructed the payload. The SunSat package includes 1200 and 9600 baud digital store-and-forward capability and a voice 'parrot' repeater system that will be used primarily for educational demonstrations. The satellite has two VHF and two UHF transmit-receive systems. For more information on SunSat, visit the following URL: http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za [ANS thanks Garth Milne ZR1AFH, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-108.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 108.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 18, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-108.07 THE FOLLOWING SATELLITES ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: RS-16 The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational. Attempts to command the mode A transponder 'on' have been unsuccessful to date. No additional information is available at this time. DOVE DO-17 Downlinks 145.825 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK 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. 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. ITAMSAT IO-26 Uplink 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM 1200 baud Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB Unknown status. ANS has not received any recent updates concerning the status of IO-26. No additional information is available at this time. TECHSAT-1B GO-32 Downlink 435.325 435.225 MHz using HDLC telemetry framed so that a TNC in KISS mode will decode it Unknown status. ANS has not received any recent updates concerning the current status of GO-32. The TechSat-1B micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998. Last reported, the satellite does not have a continuos beacon, but does transmit a 9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (for a continuous 3 seconds in length), on 435.225 MHz. The TechSat team has constructed a home page about TechSat. To view the site, point your web browser to: http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/ No additional information is available at this time. SEDSAT-1 SO-33 Downlink 437.910 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions. Recovery efforts have been unsuccessful. SedSat-1, signifying Students for the Exploration and Development of Space Satellite number one, was successfully launched and placed in orbit on Saturday, October 24, 1998. SedSat was last reported to be performing as it has since launch, transmitting telemetry until the batteries are depleted --going into safe mode-- recharging batteries and then repeating the process. For more information on SedSat-1 visit the satellite web site at the following URL: http://www.seds.org/sedsat No additional information is available at this time. KITSAT KO-23 Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 435.175 MHz FM Not operational. The downlink transmitter has not been operational for any normal communication for several months. ANS has learned (from HL0ENJ) that satellite downlink telemetry shows one of KO-23's battery cells to be very unstable. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, for KO-23 status information] --ANS END--- ANS would like to thank Mike Seguin, N1JEZ, ANS principal satellite investigator, for helping provide current satellite information for ANS. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to ans-editor@amsat.org /EX