SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-255.01 TASK FORCE FOR FUTURE TECHNOLOGY AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 255.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-255.01 AMSAT-NA President Keith Baker, KB1SF, has been asked to be a member of a working group to explore the future of Amateur Radio technology. Under direction of the American Radio Relay League, the working group along with a technology task force will explore ideas and proposals for new technologies to carry Amateur Radio into the next century. "It is a great honor for me to represent AMSAT-NA on this group," said KB1SF, adding, "I am looking forward to becoming an integral part of a forward-looking team that's now helping to chart the future of our great hobby." Also appointed to the working group is long-time ANS contributor Rich Moseson, W2VU. The ARRL Board of Directors created the Task Force and the companion Technology Working Group last January, and ARRL President Rod Stafford, W6ROD, has appointed a number of leading amateurs to serve on both panels. The Task Force and the Working Group will work hand- in-hand to identify, evaluate, and promote the most promising 21st Century technologies for Amateur Radio. Chairing the Task Force is ARRL First Vice President Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML. ARRL Laboratory Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, will serve as ARRL HQ staff liaison to both committees. The Task Force invites information and concepts on a wide range of technologies with the potential to improve Amateur Radio and welcomes the submission of ideas and proposals from all parts of the amateur community. The information gathered will be used to help formulate League policy recommendations on a wide range of technical issues. Amateurs are welcome to submit ideas using the form on ARRLWeb at: http://www.arrl.org/news/ttf/ (or) via e-mail to: ttfinput@arrl.org Suggestions are requested by November 30, 1999. [ANS congratulates KB1SF and W2VU and thanks the ARRL for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-255.02 ISS UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 255.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-255.02 The International Space Station's systems continue to function normally this week with no major problems. Troubleshooting has continued on one of the Space Station's six batteries. This battery is scheduled to be replaced and may be returned to Earth for examination. Flight control teams in Houston and Moscow continue to analyze data related to electronics associated with the battery. A pump test scheduled for next week will transfer nitrogen through portions of the Station's propellant system. The test is designed to monitor the electrical system as it supports the pump and to check the function of the pump itself. In late October the pump is to be used to transfer propellant among the tanks aboard the Space Station and prepare it for subsequent docking with the Russian-built Service Module. The Service Module will be the third element of the Space Station and is now scheduled for launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in November. The Space Station is oriented with Unity pointed toward Earth and Zarya pointed toward space in a slow spin to conserve fuel and maintain an even temperature for both modules. The Space Station is in an orbit with a high point of 244 statute miles and a low point of 234 statute miles, circling the Earth every 92 minutes. The complex has completed more than 4,550 orbits since launch of Zarya last November. Space Station viewing opportunities worldwide are available on the Internet at: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/ [ANS thanks NASA for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-255.03 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 255.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-255.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** Current CQ-VHF Editor Richard Moseson, W2VU, (and frequent ANS contributor) has taken on additional duties as the new editor of CQ magazine. Dick Ross, K2MGA, announced Moseson's appointment six weeks after the death of long-time CQ Editor K2EEK. Rich has been involved in numerous projects, including creation of CQ's Amateur Radio videotape series, management of CQ's 50th anniversary issue, development of the magazine's various Web sites, and most recently the launch of CQ VHF. Congratulations W2VU from AMSAT! -ANS, ARRL ** The FCC has relaxed rules governing the use of spread spectrum techniques by radio amateurs and opened the door to the possibility of international spread spectrum communication. Once the new rules become effective (November 1st), hams will be able to use techniques other than frequency hopping and direct sequence spreading. In addition, the new FCC rules will permit U.S. hams to use spread spectrum techniques to communicate with amateurs in other countries that permit SS. This announcement may help to open operation on PanSat/PO-34. -ARRL, ANS ** The University of Texas Amateur Radio Club recently became one of the few college or university radio clubs to have equipment for 1.2 GHz, with the equipment intended for weak signal terrestrial work. Check out the project online at: http://n5xu.ae.utexas.edu/images/1296/. -Ken, KM5FA ** Kennedy Space Center is offering educators and members of industry the opportunity to learn more about emerging technologies at the nation's spaceport through an educational conference to be held in early October. The 2nd Annual Partners in Education and Research Conference is designed to inform participants and help NASA identify research experts for future partnerships. -NASA ** Sweden has cut its code requirement and number of license classes, reducing code speed from 12 to 5 words-per-minute and dropping the number of license classes from 4 to 2. The Class 1 license offers all Swedish amateur privileges and requires the 5-wpm test, while the Class 2 ticket is a no-code license for VHF and UHF only. -ARRL ** In a new set of observations astrophysicists have discovered that an afterglow can start in gamma rays during a gamma-ray burst, thus suggesting that more than one activity is causing what appears to be a chaotic explosion. Gamma-ray bursts are one of the most mysterious events in the heavens. Their cause remains unknown, although recent observations have allowed scientists to start narrowing the possibilities. NASA has more information at the following URL: http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast10sep99_1.htm -NASA ** Images of the earthquake-struck regions of Turkey are being provided by European ERS satellites and SPOT satellites of the French national space agency CNES. The data provided by the satellite systems is being analyzed at ESA's research institute located in Frascati, Italy. Information about the extent of the affected areas and about the effects of the catastrophe on the ground will give valuable information to public authorities and organizations working to repair the damage. The satellite system operators are making the latest data available directly to potential users. ESA and CNES have pledged to pool their satellite-based resources and provide timely, pertinent information on parts of the Earth struck by natural or man-made disasters. --ESA ** An inexpensive satellite-based e-mail service for people in remote areas of the world and for captains of small boats has been launched by the European Space Agency. ESA said that the Intercontinental Retrieval of Information (IRI) satellite system, has now been activated and will allow e-mail messages to be sent from anywhere in the world using a satellite modem connected to a PC. Messages can be sent to or from Internet users, or between remote users of the system. -TechWeb ** Some doorstep astronomy from ANS: In the U.S. look northwest just as twilight ends to spot the Big Dipper. Its handle curves leftward more or less in the direction of bright Arcturus, the brightest star shining in the west. The front two stars of the Dipper's bowl point upper right toward rather dim Polaris, the North Star (due north). -Sky & Telescope --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-255.04 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 255.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-255.05 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. 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. Clare, VE3NPC, reports working Kimio, 8J1RL (operated by JA9BOH) via AO-10 for the first VE/8J1 QSO. Ken, WA1QXR and Mike, N1JEZ also report working Kimio. 8J1RL is located at Syowa Station, Antarctica (69.00S - 39.58E). Schedules with 8J1RL are welcome, arrange via JH3BJN (jh3bjn@amsat.org). Look for Kimo's CW downlink near 145.890 MHz. 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 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 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-255.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 255.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-255.06 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 as follows: Time is Fri Sep 10 21:58:50 1999 uptime is 1818/16:17:13 +X (RX) Temp -9.078 D RX Temp 5.444 D Baseplt Temp 2.419 D RC PSK BP Temp -5.448 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -2.422 D +Y Array Temp -22.390 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -5.448 D +Z Array Temp -14.524 D RC PSK TX Out 0.599 W +10V Bus 10.400 V Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.395 Ifb= 0.182 I+10V= 0.230 TX:010B BCR:1E PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:C4 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 as follows: Time is Fri Sep 10 22:38:29 1999 uptime is 406/09:03:51 +X (RX) Temp -10.526 D RX Temp -0.430 D Variations are observed in the RC PSK TX Out power, between 0.127 and 0.547 watts in the same work window. Total Array C= 0.008 Bat Ch Cur=-0.252 Ifb= 0.122 I+10V= 0.136 TX:016 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/ 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 has been in mode-J recently. Walter, IW8ZGH, reports working RU6BL with very strong signals. Geoff, VK3JDG, reported a S-9 pass. North American stations active on SO-35 included K5OE and KK5DO. KK5DO, recorded the U.S. pass. Listen to the pass in RealAudio at: http://www.amsatnet.com. 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-255.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 255.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-255.07 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