SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-325.01 AMSAT-UK CALL FOR PAPERS AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 325.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 21, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS The 15th AMSAT-UK Colloquium, to be called "AMSAT Space 2000", will be held at Surrey University in the United Kingdom, July 27-30, 2000. AMSAT-UK invites potential authors to submit papers about Amateur Radio space and associated activities for this event. Papers will also be published in the 'Proceedings' document which will be available during (and after) the event. Richard, G3RWL, tells ANS that "normally, AMSAT-UK prefers authors to present the papers themselves rather than having someone else read them, but we also welcome unpresented papers." According to G3RWL, offers of papers should be submitted as soon as possible; the final date for full documents to be received is mid-June 2000 (in order that the Proceedings document be available to participants). A second (and final) call for papers will issued in early 2000. Additional Colloquium information will also be available at that time. Submissions should be sent to G3RWL via the following routes: Internet e-mail: g3rwl@amsat.org Packet radio: G3RWL @ GB7HSN.#32.GBR.EU Terrestrial mail: Richard Limebear G3RWL 60 Willow Road Enfield EN1 3NQ United Kingdom AMSAT-UK also invites anyone with requests for program topics to submit them. Invitations for any papers on specific subjects will be included in any future call for papers. Additionally, AMSAT-UK will offer sessions specifically for those new to Amateur Radio satellite operation during the event. [ANS thanks Richard Limebear, G3RWL, Colloquium Program Organizer, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-325.02 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 324.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 21, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-325.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** Richard, G3RWL reports the AMSAT-UK web site has been updated with major changes in the navigation sequence of the site. Richard tells ANS this will "give it a more formal structure." Check out the changes at http://www.uk.amsat.org/. -G3RWL ** The Hubble Space Telescope was placed into a safe hold recently when a gyroscope ceased operation. With only two operational gyros remaining, the science programming on Hubble was suspended until completion of Servicing Mission 3A, currently scheduled for launch aboard Discovery in early December. -SpaceDaily ** Increased solar activity due to the current sunspot cycle is expected to affect satellites on which telecommunications customers depend. The solar maximum also could impact power grids. NOAA officials said the storms alter the Earth's magnetic field and may send strong enough electrical charges that would overwhelm vulnerable power grids. The last cycle of geomagnetic storms occurred in the late 1980s and resulted in blackouts in Montreal, England and Scandinavia and damaged four Navy satellites. -ARRL Letter ** The ASUSat1 launch date has now been set for December 7th. 4X1KX reports "the first two stages of the launcher have been assembled on the launch pad and the payload has been encapsulated." -Assi, KK7KX/4X1KX ** NASDA launch officials destroyed both launch vehicle and satellite payload after a H2 rocket veered off course recently. A Japanese official reported that the H2 solid rocket boosters burned okay, but main engine cutoff was nearly two minutes early when (apparently) the rocket ran out of fuel. After loss of telemetry the destruct command was sent. -SpaceDaily ** The first commercial launch of the giant European rocket Ariane-5 has been set for December 10th, when it is scheduled to place a research satellite in orbit, Arianespace officials announced. The launcher has been moved to the launch location and a rehearsal of the launch has been completed. Photos of the upcoming Ariane-504 mission are at http://www.arianespace.com/english/orbit_504log.html. -Ron, W8GUS ** Some U.S. doorstep astronomy from ANS: The brightest star shining in the west-northwest after dark this month is Vega, 25 light-years away. The brightest star above it (by a little more than two fist-widths at arm's length) is Deneb, about 1,500 light-years distant. -S&T --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-325.03 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 325.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 21, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-325.03 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. Al, XE2YVW, tells ANS that three new operators are now active on RS-13, welcome to Marcos, XE2TSG, Ben, XE2TH, and Ben, XE2TZP. 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. 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 an 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 Mike, KF4FDJ, recently operated on AO-27 from the Tampa hamfest. [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 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-325.04 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 325.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 21, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-325.04 KITSAT KO-23 Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 435.175 MHz FM Non-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 is (again) not operational. Stay tuned to ANS for further developments. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, for KO-23 status information] 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). Chris, G7UPN, reported to ANS that UO-22 was recently reloaded with new software to make the satellite Y2K compliant. 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 19 22:38:08 1999 uptime is 1888/16:55:40 +5 Volt Bus 4.941 V +2.5V VREF 2.506 V 8.5V BUS 8.485 V +10V Bus 10.450 V +X (RX) Temp -3.027 D RX Temp 12.100 D Baseplt Temp 6.654 D PSK TX RF Out -0.029 W RC PSK TX Out 0.582 W RC PSK BP Temp -1.817 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 1.209 D +Y Array Temp -18.760 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 0.603 D +Z Array Temp -9.078 D Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.471 Ifb= 0.161 I+10V= 0.328 TX:010B BCR:1E PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:7C 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 19 22:55:49 1999 uptime is 476/09:21:11 +10V Bus 10.770 V +X (RX) Temp -4.917 D RX Temp 5.179 D Baseplt Temp 4.618 D RC PSK TX Out 0.659 W +Z Array Temp -11.087 D Total Array C= 0.008 Bat Ch Cur=-0.283 Ifb= 0.119 I+10V= 0.171 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. Hans, ZS5AKV, reports the SunSat ground control team at the University of Stellenbosch are now in the process of loading new control software. ZS5AKV reports "operation as previously scheduled is doubtful." 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] TECHSAT-1B GO-32 Downlink 435.225 MHz using HDLC telemetry Updated status. Shlomo, 4X1AS, tells ANS that efforts are underway to bring GO-32 on line. According to Dr. Fred Ortenberg of the Asher Space Research Institute in Haifa, "the TechSat control team is about to finish its Amateur Radio BBS package tests. The next stage is to add beacon messages about the satellite's housekeeping status." Stay tuned to ANS for further information. 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/ /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-325.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 325.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 21, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-325.05 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. 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, the most recent dated November 11th. 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