SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-311.01 ASTRONAUT-HAM HONORED AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 311.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 07, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-311.01 NASA and the ARRL have informed ANS that astronaut Eileen Collins, KD5EDS, a New York native, has received the Empire State's highest award - the Jackie Robinson Empire State Freedom Medal. KD5EDS received the award for her achievement as the first female space shuttle commander. During the historic STS-93 mission, Collins and her crew deployed the heaviest, largest and most powerful X-ray telescope ever launched into space, the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The Robinson Freedom Medal, established in 1997, goes each year to those who best demonstrate the qualities of determination, dignity, fairness and honor exemplified by Jackie Robinson, who broke major league baseball's color barrier. ANS congratulates Commander Eileen Collins, KD5EDS, on this outstanding achievement! [ANS thanks both NASA and the ARRL for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-311.02 ARISS DELAYED HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 311.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 07, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-311.02 NASA is reporting the schedule once again has been reset for space shuttle mission STS-101, which will carry aloft initial Amateur Radio equipment on the International Space Station. NASA now says the shuttle Atlantis will now launch no earlier than March 16, 2000. The nearly 11-day mission will carry the initial ham equipment to the ISS for deployment aboard the Russian-built service module. Wiring inspections and repairs on the Atlantis orbiter, along with the Unplanned replacement of the ammonia boiler, are responsible for the most recent delay. Observers also are keeping an eye on the situation in Kazakhstan, where a Russian Proton rocket recently was lost following launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The Proton launch vehicle is similar to the rocket that will bring next ISS piece --the Zvezda module-- to orbit. NASA reports that it's too early to determine what, if any, impact the launch failure could have on Zvezda's launch schedule. [ANS thanks NASA and the ARRL for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-311.03 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 311.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 07, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-311.03 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** W3IWI reports one of our long-term AMSAT folks is in the hospital. Chod Harris, WB2CHO/VP2ML, suffered a massive heart attack and remains in intensive care. Flowers are not permitted in the intensive care unit, but friends may write Chod at 3201 Franz Valley Road, Santa Rosa, California 95404. -AMSAT-BB ** The Dayton Amateur Radio Association is now accepting requests for applications for the DARA Scholarship Awards. DARA has awarded numerous $2000 scholarships to assist young amateurs in educational needs. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors and hold an Amateur Radio license. Requests for applications, accompanied by an SASE, should go to DARA Scholarships, 45 Cinnamon Court, Springboro, Ohio 45066. -Stan, NY8F/ARRL Letter ** WB2GZM/VK3JJH reports that in anticipation of higher than normal meteor activity during November's annual Leonid meteor shower, NASA has created an image library and invites amateur astronomers, photographers and individuals with imaging equipment to upload Leonid meteor photographs or images to the Near-Live Leonid Meteor Watch System. In addition, the Air Force and NASA are teaming with the international scientific community to monitor the meteor storm. More information can be found at the following URL: http://leonids.hq.nasa.gov/. -AMSAT-BB ** CQ-VHF magazine will end publication at year's end and be merged into an expanded CQ magazine says publisher Richard Ross, K2MGA. The merger takes effect with the January 2000 issue. -ARRL Letter ** Nominations for the ARRL Instructor of the Year are due soon. A nomination form is available on the ARRL web site (or by mail). The ARRL Professional Instructor of the Year award recognizes paid instructors, such as those teaching through adult education, while the Herb Brier Instructor of the Year Award recognizes an unpaid volunteer instructor. To get an educational awards nominating application, visit http://www.arrl.org/ead/award/application.html. -ARRL Letter More North American doorstep astronomy from ANS: Jupiter and Saturn, in the eastern sky during evening, are the highlight of this autumn's sky. Also look to the upper left -- forming a nearly equilateral triangle with them is the 2nd-magnitude star Hamal, the brightest star of Aries. -S&T --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-311.04 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 311.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 07, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-311.04 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. Jerry, K5OE, reports working XE2ARF, XE2BSS, XE2EKY and XE1PEP recently on RS-13. 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 for mode-A operation 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. DX continues to be heard and worked on AO-10. Jerry, K5OE, reports to ANS that he has been timing AO-10 QSB during perigee passes and notes a semi-consistent pattern of about a 14 minute cycle: 8 minutes of discernible audio going from barely there through the warble stage up to about S-5 signals, and then back down again. Stacey Mills, W4SM, reports AO-10 currently experiences eclipses at perigee of approximately 30 minutes length. W4SM reports that "what Jerry is describing appears to be a different phenomenon related to slow tumbling of the satellite producing poor illumination of the solar panels, poor antenna positioning, or both. However, please note that the perigee eclipses will continue for a long time (months). They will slowly move towards a later period in the orbit and a corresponding longer duration into the early part of 2000." W4SM tells ANS that AO-10 will not be eclipse free again until March 25, 2000. W4SM has more information about the satellite at the following URL: http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/AO-10.html 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 [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 uses a method called Timed Eclipse Power Regulation (TEPR) to regulate the on-board batteries. In simple terms, TEPR times how long the satellite has been in the eclipse (or in the sun) and decides what subsystems to turn on or off. Chuck, KM4NZ, reset the TEPR states on AO-27 (on 10/11/99). TEPR 4 is 22 TEPR 5 is 58 Eddie, N5JGK, operated from Monroe, Louisiana (EM32) recently during a local hamfest using an HT and portable antenna, demonstrating the use of AO-27 QRP satellite operation. [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: November 09- 10th JA November 11 - 23rd digitalker November 24 - 25th JA November 26 - 30th digitalker 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-311.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 311.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 07, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-311.05 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. Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-23 again became operational 29-October. Jim notes the downlink transmitter has changed and that has altered the downlink frequency. "Full downlink efficiency can be obtained by tuning approximately 2.5 kHz below the 435.175 MHz noted downlink frequency," reports AA7KC. [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 active 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. Telemetry is as follows: Time is Fri Nov 05 22:55:29 1999 uptime is 1874/17:13:01 +10V Bus 10.300 V +X (RX) Temp -5.448 D RX Temp 9.075 D +5V Bus 4.718 V +8.5V Bus 7.746 V Bat 2 Temp 6.654 D BCR Load Cur 0.405 A BCR Input Cur 0.165 A BCR Output Cur 0.018 A Baseplt Temp 5.444 D RC PSK TX Out 0.650 W RC PSK BP Temp -1.817 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 0.603 D +Y Array Temp -20.575 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -0.607 D +Z Array Temp -11.499 D Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.387 Ifb= 0.165 I+10V= 0.240 TX:010B BCR:1E PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:63 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. Telemetry is as follows: Time is Fri Nov 05 23:18:49 1999 uptime is 462/09:44:11 +10V Bus 10.668 V RC PSK TX Out 0.659 W Total Array C= 0.008 Bat Ch Cur=-0.289 Ifb= 0.122 I+10V= 0.174 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. 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 1999 issue of the AMSAT-NA Journal (written by KD6DRA and N7HPR). [ANS thanks Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, for this information] SUNSAT SO-35 Semi-operational. SunSat has been in mode-B recently. 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. The announced SUNSAT schedule through is as follows: 13-November Australia, Indonesia, Far East 02:36 to 02:50 UTC Southern Africa 09:13 to 09:27 Europe 09:38 to 09:52 USA 16:09 to 16:23 14-November Australia 01:54 to 02:08 UTC Southern Africa 08:33 to 08:47 Europe 08:57 to 09:11 Transatlantic 12:18 to 12:30 (in the brief window from 12:18 to 12:30 UTC, it should be possible to make transatlantic contacts between the eastern U.S. and Canada to Spain and England). 20-November Australia 01:11 to 01:25 UTC Southern Africa 09:31 to 09:45 Europe 09:54 to 10:08 USA 16:29 to 16:43 21-November Australia 02:11 to 02:25 UTC Southern Africa 08:52 to 09:06 Europe 09:15 to 09:29 South America 13:54 to 14:08 27-November Australia 01:30 to 01:44 UTC Southern Africa (pass 1) 08:11 to 08:25 and Southern Africa (pass 2) 09:49 to 10:03 USA 16:47 to 17:01 28-November Australia 00:50 to 01:04 UTC Southern Africa 09:11 to 09:25 Europe 09:34 to 09:48 South America 14:13 to 14:27 Times are UTC. Uplink is on 436.291 MHz (+/- doppler up to 9 kHz). Downlink is on 145.825 MHz. 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. S-band high speed downlink commissioning continues at rates between 128kb/s and 1Mb/s. The S-band downlink frequency has not been announced. 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 (at times) testing on 437.025 MHz at a baud rate of 38,400 (38k4). Presently the BBS is still closed. 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, digipeater function is 'on'. IO-26 was launched on the September 26, 1993. Alberto, I2KBD, reports IO-26 has been opened to APRS use. ITAMSAT ground controllers have switched the digipeater function to 'on'. [ANS thanks ITAMSAT Project Manager Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-311.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 311.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 07, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-311.06 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. 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 from the satellite recently, dated October 22nd. 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