SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.01 IARU ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MEETS IN NORWAY AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-276.01 The ARRL Letter recently contained a report about an IARU meeting in Norway that will be of special interest to satellite operators. According to the ARRL, the International Amateur Radio Union Administrative Council has adopted an information paper for prospective owners and operators of amateur satellites. The Council said the document's purpose is "to reduce the possibility of inappropriate use of the Amateur-Satellite Service." The action came as the Council convened for the first time under the chairmanship of IARU President Larry Price, W4RA. The information paper --developed and adapted from material originally prepared by AMSAT-NA-- cautions that the Amateur-Satellite Service is not intended for broadcasting; that communication be in plain language, and access remain open to all amateur licensees. IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, said that while last April's Swatch 'Beatnik' satellite situation did not prompt the adoption of the information paper, that type of proposed use would be an appropriate example. Last April, Swatch Watch announced plans to use a mini-satellite operating on 2-meters to transmit messages related to its campaign to establish the 'Swatch Beat' as a new "global concept of time." Amateurs protested the Swatch plans because of the commercial connection, and the project was scrapped. An IARU Satellite Forum is also scheduled to take place during the upcoming AMSAT-NA Symposium. The agenda topics for the Forum include: * The Year in Review * Frequency Co-ordination Report * What is an Amateur Satellite? * International Frequency Planning for ARISS * Monitoring and Dealing with Intruders in the Amateur Satellite Bands The session will end with an open forum discussion. [ANS thanks the ARRL and the IARU for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.02 A ROOM WITH A VIEW HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-276.02 Astronauts on board the International Space Station will be able to look out and see the Earth, other planets and the stars thanks to technology recently developed by European industry for ESA, the European Space Agency. Engineers across Europe are currently hard at work developing a set of windows for the Space Station that are capable of withstanding years of exposure to radiation and particle bombardment in space. In addition to giving astronauts a direct view of external areas of the Space Station and facilitating scientific observation of celestial bodies and the Earth, the windows will perform an important psychological function -- allowing astronauts to look down on our home planet. The windows area, called the Cupola because of its domed, hexagonal shape, will also house the control stand for the Space Station robotic arm. The schedule for the 'room with a view' starts initially in August 2003, when the Cupola will be mounted on the Unity connecting Node already in orbit. It will later be moved to the forward port on Node 3 to provide a better view. The Cupola has six windows offering 360 degree vision plus a seventh window on the top. Each window has a shutter to shade and protect the fused silica glass when the Cupola is not in use. [ANS thanks the European Space Agency for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.03 HAMS SOUGHT TO ASSIST RESEARCHERS AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-276.03 Wondering what to do with your satellite gear between passes of your favorite bird? If you live in the central U.S. --from North Dakota to Texas-- and can receive signals on 172 MHz, wildlife researchers need your help. For the second year, hams are helping to track the movements of endangered burrowing owls as they migrate southward from Canada. Scientists think that they fly all the way from Saskatchewan and Alberta to southern Texas and northern Mexico, but accurate data is scarce and difficult to obtain. The owls are on the move again, heading south for the winter. Biologists are asking for help from hams to track some newly tagged juvenile birds. "Perhaps this fall will bring the first recorded sighting in the U.S. of a live Canadian-banded burrowing owl, and perhaps a ham will make it happen," said ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV. Since the birds remain in or near underground burrows during the day, monitors are most likely to copy the short-pulsed signals during hours of darkness, when the birds are migrating and foraging. K0OV tells ANS that all the equipment needed is a scanner or an extended-range hand-held plus an outside antenna. Even better is direction-finding gear for 172 MHz. The equipment found in the average satellite hamshack would be ideal. For more information, check the burrowing owl web page at: http://members.aol.com/homingin/ The page contains the exact frequencies of all 48 tag transmitters plus photos, information on the expected migration path, and suggestions for simple monitoring and tracking gear. [ANS thanks the ARRL and Direction Finding Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.04 SYMPOSIUM FIELD OPS BREAKFAST HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-276.04 With the 17th Space Symposium and AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting now just days away, Barry Baines, WD4ASW, AMSAT-NA Vice President for Field Operations, reminds Symposium attendees about the Field Ops Breakfast to be held during the Symposium. The breakfast is primarily aimed at currently designated Area Coordinators, however, "any current AMSAT member who may be interested in becoming an Area Coordinator is certainly welcome to attend as well," said Baines. According to WD4ASW, the Field Ops Breakfast will be held on Sunday, October 10th. Two hours have been set aside for breakfast and discussions. "The Field Ops Breakfast offers a great opportunity for Area Coordinators to get together to share ideas and experiences, say hello to old friends and greet new volunteers," said WD4ASW, adding, "we have over 150 designated Coordinators. A number of Area Coordinators have been very successful in representing AMSAT within their local communities. We hope this gathering will let those in attendance know what works and to celebrate successes." [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA Vice President for Field Operations Barry Baines, WD4ASW, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.05 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-276.05 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** ANS principle satellite investigator Mike, N1JEZ, recently had an interesting experience. During a family vacation (and just after operating portable through AO-27) Mike had a sedan pull up behind his car and a gentleman wearing dark sunglasses approached. The man announced that he was with Naval Intelligence (with credentials to prove it) and wanted to know what Mike was doing. N1JEZ explained everything in detail, but also had to produce every bit of identification he was carrying! Mike finally asked if there was a problem and the man then pointed to a fence near the location and said "that's the Bath, Maine Naval Air Station, so I had to check you out." -ANS ** The European Space Agency X-ray Multi-Mirror spacecraft has arrived at the European Space Center at Kourou where it will be prepared for launch aboard an Ariane 5. With a working lifetime of 10 years, XMM will study X-ray sources throughout the Universe. Ariane launchers will also transport to space two GeoSats on behalf of GE American. An Ariane 4 will launch GE-4 before year-end, while the second GE Americom will fly on an Ariane 5 sometime after 2001. -SpaceDaily ** The ARRL has added a public page to search FCC license data. You can find the search engine page at the following URL: http://www.arrl.org/fcc/fcclook.php3. -ARRL ** The launch of the first commercial satellite from a floating platform at sea will take place on October 10th if all goes as planned. The 200-foot High Sea Launch will lift the 7,600 pound DirecTV 1-R broadcast satellite into a transfer orbit from the equatorial ocean site. More information about the upcoming Sea Launch can be found at: http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/sealaunch-99g.html. -SpaceDaily ** KD4DLA has found an interesting NASA web site that has views of the solar system from different locations -- like Earth or Mars. The page can be found at: http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/. -James, KD4DLA ** NASA recently announced the likely reason the Mars Climate Orbiter was lost. On September 23rd, the spacecraft apparently passed only 60 km from the Martian surface, rather than the planned close approach of 140 to 150 km. A preliminary investigation revealed that a mismatch of figures occurred because one team of engineers had used English units of measure while another used metric. Two panels continue to study the mission failure. The next mission for the red planet is the Mars Polar Lander, which should arrive near Mars on December 3rd. -Sky & Telescope --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-276.06 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, 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 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. 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. 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. [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. Mike, KF4FDJ, has put together a very informative document on FO-29, addressing analog, digital and digi-talker modes. To obtain a copy e-mail Mike at: kf4fdj@amsat.org Kazu, JJ1WTK, reports the FO-29 operational schedule (announced by the JARL) is as follows: through - 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-276.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-276.07 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] KITSAT KO-23 Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 435.175 MHz FM Semi-operational. ANS has learned (from HL0ENJ) that satellite downlink telemetry shows two 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 have been experienced every few months. Jim, AA7KC, reports the KO-23 BBS returned to service on September 21, 1999 and the satellite is receiving substantial traffic. Jim reports KO-23 is exhibiting very good downlink efficiency with easy uplink access. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, for KO-23 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 Operational (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 Sat Oct 02 11:31:28 1999 uptime is 1840/05:49:37 +5 Volt Bus 5.033 V +2.5V VREF 2.495 V 8.5V BUS 8.602 V +10V Bus 11.150 V +Z Array V 22.608 V +X (RX) Temp -3.632 D RX Temp -3.632 D BCR Set Point 125.746 C BCR Load Cur 0.343 A BCR Input Cur 0.470 A BCR Output Cur 0.360 A Baseplt Temp 4.234 D RC PSK TX Out 0.472 W RC PSK BP Temp 1.814 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 1.814 D +Y Array Temp 4.839 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -0.002 D +Z Array Temp 0.603 D Total Array C= 0.436 Bat Ch Cur= 0.017 Ifb= 0.034 I+10V= 0.309 TX:010B BCR:82 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:16 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 Sat Oct 02 12:02:49 1999 uptime is 427/22:28:11 BCR Load Cur 0.158 A BCR Input Cur 0.302 A BCR Output Cur 0.261 A Bat 1 Temp 0.692 D Bat 2 Temp 1.252 D Baseplt Temp 1.813 D RC PSK TX Out 0.630 W RC PSK BP Temp -0.991 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -0.991 D +Y Array Temp 2.374 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -2.113 D +Z Array Temp -2.113 D Total Array C= 0.277 Bat Ch Cur= 0.103 Ifb= 0.025 I+10V= 0.133 TX:017 BCR:89 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. Bruce, KK5DO, has recorded several mode-J SO-35 passes in RealAudio, check out the following web site to listen: http://www.amsatnet.com. The SunSat mode-J schedule is as follows: October 9th Africa 09:16 - 09:32 UTC USA 16:15 - 16:30 USA 17:50 - 18:10 USA 19:34 - 19:48 The three successive passes over the U.S. correspond with the AMSAT Symposium. October 10th Australia 01:56 - 02:12 UTC Africa 10:16 - 10:34 Europe 10:38 - 10:52 USA 17:11 - 17:30 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). G7UPN also tells ANS that UO-36 is severely power limited and Chris is working on a new protocol to allow the downlink to only be switched on over active ground stations. "Once we get this going, UO-36 will be running the 38k4 downlink, and will be available when spacecraft resources (primarily power) permit," said G7UPN. 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] ITAMSAT IO-26 Uplink 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM 1200 baud Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB Semi-operational. IO-26 was launched on the September 26, 1993, recently celebrating its sixth birthday. Ground control stations are attempting to activate the digipeater on IO-26. The spacecraft has been in MBL mode and an overall check has shown the satellite to be in good condition. Mineo, JE9PEL, recently received IO-26 digital signals. [ANS thanks ITAMSAT Project Manager Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-276.08 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 276.08 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 03, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-276.08 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. 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 (one frame) from the satellite recently, dated September 20th. 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. /EX