SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-164.01 SAREX MISSION MAY FLY SOON AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 164.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 13 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-146.01 The only Space Amateur Radio EXperiment mission of 1999 could launch this July aboard shuttle Columbia mission STS-93. The launch date is currently under review by NASA. The STS-93 Mission Commander is Eileen M. Collins, KD5EDS. Also aboard will be Mission Specialist Michel Tognini, KD5EJZ, and Mission Specialist Catherine G. Coleman, KC5ZTH. Students at five schools are on the list to talk to the STS-93 crew. Awty International School, Houston, Texas; Buzz Aldrin Elementary School, Reston, Virginia; Ponagansett Middle School, North Scituate, Rhode Island; Memorial Middle School, Pharr, Texas; and Osceola Elementary School, Ormond Beach, Florida are the selected schools for this flight. Stay tuned to ANS for further updates on STS-93. [ANS thanks the ARRL for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-164.02 STARSHINE PROJECT UNDERWAY AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 164.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 13, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-146.02 AMSAT's Pat Kilroy, WD8LAQ, tells ANS that Goddard Space Flight Center and Naval Research Lab employees recently got a chance to see their project handiwork - by visually spotting the Starshine satellite shortly after it was released by the shuttle Discovery. The mirror-covered satellite is designed to catch the sun's light and reflect it back to Earth. The satellite's 900 mirrors were polished by school students. NASA is hoping that as many as 25,000 youngsters in elementary through high school will plot the satellite's orbit and use their observations as part of a science and mathematics studies - and as part of Project Starshine. WD8LAQ provided the needed sighting predictions for his group and according to Pat "patience and persistence paid off." The group first saw Discovery and then, within a few degrees of the shuttle, "observed a bright flash from out of nowhere," said Pat. Starshine was sighted! Pat reports the satellite was "about as bright as Venus is just after sunset." Satellite operators can help students and schools with Project Starshine. Students will need to know the exact time they can see the satellite and how to measure the satellite's right ascension and declination. Project Starshine Director Gil Moore, N7YTK, has asked U.S. hams to help with this volunteer, non-governmental project. Interested amateurs will find more information at the following Project Starshine web site: http://www.azinet.com/starshine/index.html [ANS thanks the ARRL and Pat Kilroy, WD8LAQ for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-164.03 UO-36 OPERATING PARAMETERS EXPANDED AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 164.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 13, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-164.03 UO-36 continues to have its operating parameters expanded as the satellite approaches almost two months in space. UO-36 was successfully launched on April 21, 1999 from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome. The satellite carries a number of imaging payloads and digital store-and-forward communications transponders. Ground control stations have focused recent activity on the satellite's communications transponder payload, which has an L-band uplink and an S-band downlink. The transponder supports analogue, digital-DSP and digital-regenerative communications modes, as well as acting as a high-speed data downlink channel. S-band downlink test data has been received by ground stations with excellent signals. Ground control also reports the L-band uplink was successfully tested last week. Further checkout of the complex payload and its ground support equipment is expected to last several weeks. Additional multispectral images from the remote sensing system have been taken recently. These UO-36 satellite images are available at the following URL's: http://www.sstl.co.uk/primages/UO12-kuwait-msi-irg.jpg http://www.sstl.co.uk/primages/UO12-kuwait-msi-rgb.jpg http://www.sstl.co.uk/primages/351-kuwait-nir.jpg http://www.sstl.co.uk/primages/UO12-neworleans-msi-irg.jpg Further information on UO-36 is available at: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ [ANS thanks Martin Sweeting, G3YJO, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-164.04 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 164.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 13, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-164.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** Phase 3D update: On June 10th a possible world first 24 GHz PSK communications contact was achieved by ON4AOD and DB2OS during a transmitter final check-out and antenna adjustment period at the P3D lab. DJ4ZC, Project Leader of the P3D project, was delighted by the sound of the 400 bit/s PSK transmission and detection of the signal. -Lou, W5DID ** Plans are underway for the July/August AMSAT Journal issue. Along with several featured articles (mentioned in ANS 157) regularly occurring information will include 'Apogee View' by KB1SF, 'Field Operations' by WD4ASW, 'AMSAT Journal Telemetry' by K5NRK and an AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting Registration Form provided by KO6BT. ANS reminds satellite operators that AMSAT-NA membership includes the Journal. -ANS/Russ, K5NRK ** The Space Coast of Florida will be looking a lot like the 1960s next month as NASA and the county celebrate the 30th anniversary of Apollo 11, the mission that landed the first men on the moon. Both Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin will be in attendance. -Florida Today ** The European Southern Observatory and U.S. National Science Foundation recently announced intent to build the highest continuously operated observatory in the world. The Atacama Large Millimeter Array - 64 12-meter antennas spread over a 10-kilometer wide area - is planned for an area east of the village of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. The facility is only in the design stage at this point. -Sky and Telescope ** Operating in most of Europe and in some South American countries will now be easier for American hams. The FCC has implemented the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations recommendations that eliminates the need to obtain a special license or permit to operate for brief visits to most European countries. In addition, the ARRL has begun issuing International Amateur Radio Permits to simplify operation by U.S. hams in certain South American countries. -ARRL ** Special UK prefixes are in effect in recognition of recent elections in Scotland and Wales and the convening of the new Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly coming in July. In Scotland, GM stations may use the 2S prefix, MM callsigns may use 2A. Those with Novice call signs may use 2T. In Wales, GW stations may use 2C, MW stations may use 2X, and Welsh Novices may use 2Y. -RSGB and ARRL /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-164.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 164.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 13, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-164.05 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. The PBBS is running a Kantronics KPC-9612+ V 8.1 TNC. The commands are similar to most PBBS and BBS systems. SSTV from Mir has been reported as sporadic. 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 29.458 MHz Robot Uplink 145.840 MHz Robot Downlink 29.504 MHz Operational. Last reported in mode KA with a 10-meter downlink and a 15-meter and 2-meter uplink. RS-13's Robot CW auto-transponder is currently active. For confirmation of an RS-13 Robot contact, send your QSL card along with the Robot QSL number to: Radio Sport Federation Box 88 Moscow Kevin, AC5DK, has information about RS-12/13 that contains a simple explanation on how to operate on the satellite, including a forum for operators to exchange information, pose questions or even set up skeds via RS-12/13. AC5DK's RS-12/13 Satellite Operators Page: http://www.qsl.net/ac5dk/rs1213/rs1213.html AC5DK's RS-12/13 Satellite Forum: http://www.hotboards.com/powerforum/pwrforum.exe?who=rs1213 RS-12/13 command is now in the hands of Alex Papkov, in Kaluga City, Russia. [ANS thanks Tony, AB2CJ for RS-13 Robot QSL info] 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) SSB meeting frequency 29.380 MHz (unofficial) Semi-operational, mode A, using a 2-meter uplink and a 10-meter downlink. Dave, WB6LLO, has operating information for both RS-15 and RS-13 on his personal web site. In addition to satellite data, antenna information and AMSAT-NA Jewelry Contest information is also featured. The WB6LLO web site URL is: http://home.san.rr.com/doguimont/uploads 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. Houston AMSAT Area Coordinator Bruce Paige, KK5DO, reminds ANS that June 1999 marks the 16th birthday of AO-10! Hardy, DC8TS, has been is active from S92, Sao Tome. Operation should be through June 19th. Watch for S92RS's downlink signal around 145.890 MHz. Ken, HZ1AB, has been active from Saudi Arabia and has been worked recently by VE6ITV, F6FXU, N1JEZ, KB8VAO, DG9BHV, G8AWB, PA0AND and LA8ZY. Masa, JN1GKZ, reports his web page shows the current AO-10 spin period and spin rate (by measuring the beacon with FFTDSP software). The JN1GKZ web site can be found at the following URL: http://www.din.or.jp/~m-arai/ao10/beacone.htm 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. AO-27 has again been seeing very heavy use. Don, KC4YRT, was able to work quite a few central and western U.S. states along with Canada and Alaska via AO-27 during a recent vacation trip to Montana. Al, XE2YVW, was active from rare grid DK97 and Ron, VE7VVW, recently activated grids DO01 and DO11. The TEPR (Timed Eclipse Power Regulation) states on AO-27 currently are: TEPR 4 is 34 and TEPR 5 is 70. [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. [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: through June 17th 05:00 UTC mode JA June 17-June 21st 03:00 UTC mode JD1200 June 21-July 05th mode JA The JARL/FO-29 command station reports FO-29 will be in mode JA on the weekend of the ARRL Field Day. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-29 status reports] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-164.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 164.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 13, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-164.06 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 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. Reliable signals have been received from the 145.826 MHz beacon. For more information on OSCAR-11, visit the following web site: 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 Jun 12 22:46:23 1999 uptime is 1728/17:06:34 +10V Bus 10.400 V +X (RX) Temp -12.709 D RX Temp 0.603 D RC PSK TX Out 0.310 W +Y Array Temp -23.601 D +Z Array Temp -18.155 D Bat 1 V 1.237 V Bat 2 V 1.253 V Bat 3 V 1.262 V Bat 4 V 1.260 V Bat 5 V 1.272 V Bat 6 V 1.248 V Bat 7 V 1.244 V Bat 8 V 1.276 V Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.392 Ifb= 0.200 I+10V= 0.212 TX:0109 BCR:77 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:24 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 Jun 12 22:04:09 1999 uptime is 316/08:29:31 Array V 25.415 V BCR Set Point 29.271 C RC PSK TX Out 0.127 W RC PSK BP Temp -6.039 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -7.161 D +Y Array Temp -18.940 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -6.039 D +Z Array Temp -14.453 D Total Array C= 0.065 Bat Ch Cur=-0.041 Ifb= 0.008 I+10V= 0.043 TX:012 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. 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: http://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 general 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 general uplink transmissions. Hans, ZS5AKV, reports that SunSat is still in the initial test stages and the command team will provide more information as it becomes available. General amateur radio service is planned for 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 Ground control stations have received images from the PAL-TV imager on SunSat. The imager is a commercial grade TV camera connected to the S-band transmitter. [ANS thanks Garth Milne ZR1AFH, for this information] UoSAT-12 UO-36 Downlink 437.025 MHz 437.400 MHz UoSAT-12 was successfully launched on April 21, 1999 from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome. UO-36 carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward communications and mode L/S transponders. The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions. UO-36 has been transmitting 9600-baud FSK telemetry framed in a VLSI format using a downlink frequency of 437.400 MHz. Chris, G7UPN, reports UO-36 is also transmitting on 437.025 MHz at 38,400 (38k4) baud. Presently the BBS is still closed. S-band high speed downlink commissioning continues at rates between 128kb/s and 1Mb/s. Further information is available from: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ [ANS thanks Chris G7UPN/ZL2TPO, and the University of Surrey, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-164.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 164.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 13, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-164.075 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 Downlink 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 435.225 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. 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] /EX