SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-248.01 SATELLITE WORKSHOP AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 248.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 05, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-248.01 AMSAT-NA, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, is sponsoring a free Amateur Radio satellite workshop for colleges and universities. The workshop will be held on Thursday, October 7, 1999, just a day before the official opening of the 17th Space Symposium and AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting. The Workshop will provide a series of educational lectures to participants interested in using the Amateur Radio Satellite Service in their classroom and small satellite projects. Scheduled Workshop topics will include: * Amateur Radio satellites, who, what, where and when * the role of Amateur Radio and the Amateur Radio Satellite Service * ITU and FCC rules and regulations * spectrum assignment and frequency coordination * Amateur Radio in the classroom or laboratory * an open forum for questions and comments There is no fee to attend the workshop. More information on the event is available from AMSAT-NA's Educational Liaison, Steve Bible, N7HPR. Contact Steve by e-mail at: n7hpr@amsat.org In addition, the AMSAT-NA office has details on the workshop, call: 301-589-6062 [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA Vice President/Educational Liaison Steve Bible, N7HPR, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-248.02 SYMPOSIUM TOPICS AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 248.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 05, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-248.02 AMSAT Symposium Chair Duane Naugle, KO6BT, tells ANS presentation topics for the 17th Space Symposium and AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting have been confirmed. The Symposium will be held in San Diego, California -- October 8-11, 1999. Presentation topics will include (but not limited to): * Design and Implementation of an Automated Satellite Gateway System * Apogee (constant time-of-day) Orbits for Amateur Radio Satellites * Point-to-Point Protocol for Satellite Communications * A Patch Antenna For UHF * OPAL and Emerald - First Generation Micro-satellites * ASUSat1 Satellite Profile * JAWSAT Satellite Profile * Amateur Radio on the ISS * Phase-3D Update The AMSAT-NA web page has more details at the following URL: http://www.amsat.org [ANS thanks Duane Naugle, KO6BT, 1999 AMSAT-NA Symposium Chairman for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-248.03 AMSAT-ZL SATELLITE COMPENDIUM AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 248.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 05, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-248.03 Jeff Garrett, ZL1BIV and Ian Ashley, ZL1AOX, have recently released a satellite compendium (on CD-ROM) --that is packed with information on Amateur Radio satellites-- for use by beginners and experts alike. The compendium is organized into 23 folders containing 858 files on topics that include: * images from the Phase 3D Laboratory * Internet web sites for Amateur Radio satellite information * past Amateur Radio satellite bulletins * satellite telemetry files * satellite tracking freeware * sound card utilities * technical articles on satellite topics AMSAT-ZL has allowed its North American counterpart to make this information available to satellite operators via distribution by the AMSAT-NA office for a suggested donation. Proceeds from this project will go to support satellite programs currently underway by AMSAT. Contact AMSAT-NA headquarters for more information at: 301-589-6062 [ANS thanks Jeff Garrett, ZL1BIV, Ian Ashley, ZL1AOX and Russ Tillman, K5NRK, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-248.04 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 248.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 05, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-248.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** Space Port Nevada is ready for business. From Las Vegas, SpaceDaily is reporting that it's "all systems go" to make the Nevada test site America's newest threshold to space. More details can be found at: http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/rlv-99r.html. -SpaceDaily ** Happy birthday to the Internet, unofficially celebrating its 30th birthday this month. -ANS ** AMSAT's Martha Saragovitz reminds everyone that time is running out to pre-register for the AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting. The AMSAT office will be closed the week of September 27th. The last day Martha can accept registration is September 23rd; after that date registration will be accepted at the door only. Call Martha at 301-589-6062 for more information. The AMSAT office is also closed on Monday, September 6th, Labor Day. -ANS ** Interested in working OSCAR Zero? Lance, W7GJ, has updated his web site due to recent interest in getting on 2-meter EME. Changes include simple antennas, updated tips on succeeding at EME and a special page with suggestions for a small EME station (with equipment that most satellite stations already have). The web site to begin finding this information is http://missoula.bigsky.net/cri/w7gj. -MoonNet ** According to several news reports the first commercial SeaLaunch is expected to soar into the sky by the end of September. The launch vehicle is scheduled to carry a DirecTV satellite into orbit. -- SpaceDaily ** November's Leonid meteor shower will produce good displays this year and next and strong storms of meteors in 2001 and 2002, that's according to new research by Dr. David Asher, of Armagh Observatory and Dr. Rob McNaught of the Australian National University. This is good news for those satellite operators that also take part in meteor-scatter communications. -ANS ** Residents of Monahans, Texas will forever remember March 22, 1998 as the day that a couple of meteorites plunked onto their town from the sky. Their find eventually netted $23,000 when sold during an Internet auction. The smaller piece made its way to the laboratories of NASA's Johnson Space Center, whose scientists found something amazing inside it -- liquid water. -Sky & Telescope ** Space Shuttle managers have reviewed the progress of electrical wiring inspections and repairs on Endeavour and Discovery. Although the work is progressing well, evaluations of the findings thus far are continuing and managers have expanded the inspections based on those findings. The time required to complete the work is still being assessed. Managers do not plan to discuss target launch dates for upcoming missions (including the International Space Station) until more of the work has been completed, however it is anticipated that no mission could technically be ready for launch before mid-October at the earliest. -NASA ** Paul, KH6HME, reports working Clint Walker, W1LP/mm on 144 MHz SSB to claim a new world distance record of 2954 miles. Signals reportedly peaked S1. An unsuccessful attempt was made on 432 MHz. -ARRL and NLRS ** ESA's new gamma-ray observatory, Integral, has passed an important milestone in its development. The engineering model tests, which lasted more than a year and which were to verify that all satellite subsystems and instruments interface and function as a system, were successfully completed recently. --SpaceDaily --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-248.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 248.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 05, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-248.05 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 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. Brian, N9WJJ, will be active on RS-13 from EN-46 through early September. RS-13's Robot CW auto-transponder is 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 schedules 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. 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. Hardy, DC8TS/KC2DMA, reports working Kimio, 8J1RL (operated by JA9BOH) via AO-10. 8J1RL is located at Syowa Station, Antarctica (69.00S - 39.58E). Schedules with 8J1RL are welcome, arrange via JH3BJN (jh3bjn@amsat.org). Kimio worked KC4YRT for 8J1RL's first-ever Syowa/NA satellite QSO. 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. The satellite is performing well with heavy use on the weekends. Chuck, KM4NZ, recently reset the TEPR states on AO-27 at approximately 15:25 UTC on September 3, 1999. TEPR 4 is 34 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. FO-20 continues to function quite well. Tony, AB2CJ, has been QRV on FO-20 SSTV. [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, reports the FO-29 operational schedule (announced by the JARL) is as follows: through September 9th JA Sept 10 - Sept 21 digitalker Sept 21 - Sept 22 JA Sept 22 - Oct 4 digitalker Oct 5 - Oct 7 JA Mineo, JE9PEL, has updated his FO-29 satellite telemetry analysis Program. The software will automatically analyze all digital telemetry from the satellite such as current, voltage and temperature. The JE9PEL FO-29/software update is available at: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-29 status reports] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-248.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 248.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 05, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-248.06 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.sstl.co.uk/ [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. 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. More information on OSCAR-11 is available at the following URL: 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). AO-16 has operated continuously for over 1,800 days since its last software reload. AO-16 telemetry is not available for this ANS bulletins set. 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. The digipeater is active. LO-19 telemetry is not available for this ANS bulletin set. 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/ PanSat is the featured cover article in the July/August issue of the AMSAT-NA Journal (written by KD6DRA and N7HPR). [ANS thanks Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, for this information] SUNSAT SO-35 Semi-operational. Modes of operation and uplink/downlink frequencies have yet to be officially established. 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. SunSat is scheduled to be operating in mode J (FM) following this published release: Saturday 11-September 02:59 to 03:15 UTC Australia 09:41 to 09:55 Africa 10:01 to 10:17 Europe 16:37 to 16:55 USA Sunday 12-September 02:20 to 02:38 UTC Australia 10:40 to 10:53 Africa 11:00 to 11:16 Europe 15:58 to 16:15 USA For more information on SunSat, visit the following URL: http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za [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 a baud rate of 38,400 (38k4). Presently the BBS is still closed. S-band high speed downlink commissioning continues at rates Between 128kb/s and 1Mb/s. The S-band downlink frequency has not been announced. The VK5HI/TMSAT viewer shareware is available on the AMSAT-NA web site at the following URL: ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/display/ccddsp97-119.zip Further information on UO-36 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-248.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 248.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 05, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-248.07 THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: MIR SPACE STATION Ham radio activity aboard the Mir space station came to a close on August 28, 1999 as the crew returned to Earth, leaving the station unmanned. Mir is in a stable orbit with only essential systems running. All Amateur Radio activities have ceased. Currently, the station is being prepared for re-entry sometime in the first quarter of 2000, however, the final fate of the space station has not been formally announced. Stay tuned to ANS for further developments. Current Amateur Radio equipment aboard Mir includes: MIR SAFEX II 70-cm Repeater Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz Downlink 437.950 MHz FM Not 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 Not operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed. MIR PERSONAL MESSAGE SYSTEM (PMS) Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK Not operational. 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 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 and recovery efforts have been unsuccessful over the past year. Mineo, JE9PEL, reports he has again received minimal telemetry from the satellite recently, dated August 30, 31 and September 1st. 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 two (or more) of KO-23's battery cells to be very unstable. Ground control stations are operating KO-23 with only minimum systems. Attitude control has been lost and power failures are being experienced every two months. Control stations will try to verify current power status during September and decide if recovery is possible. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, for KO-23 status information] /EX