SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-346.01 JAWSAT DATA AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 346.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-346.01 As reported earlier in ANS, the JAWSAT launch (with Amateur Radio's newest satellites) has been postponed until early 2000. This delayed launch timeframe will allow ANS to take a detailed look at each of the new birds - starting with this installment. When the launch actually takes place, there will be several ham payloads on board including JAWSAT, OPAL, STENSAT, ARTEMIS and ASUSAT-1. Non-Amateur Radio payloads are FalconSat and a picosat named DARPA. The initial planned orbit is sun-synchronous and circular with a nominal altitude of 750-km, 98.39 degrees inclination and a 99 minute orbital period. The launch vehicle is an Orbital Sciences Minotaur, built on a Minuteman-II first and second stage with a Pegasus third and fourth stage. JAWSAT is actually a multi-payload adapter space-frame that once in orbit will deploy four independent satellites: ASUSAT-1 - a microsatellite developed and built by the students at Arizona State University OPAL - a microsatellite developed and built by the students at Stanford University (which will subsequently deploy several picosatellites) FalconSat - a microsatellite developed and built by cadets and faculty at the United States Air Force Academy OSCE - the Optical Calibration Sphere Experiment, an inflatable, reflective calibration sphere JAWSAT will also support several other experiments that will remain attached to its space frame. The frame will be separated from the fourth stage after all secondary payloads are released. Experiments include the Weber State University Attitude Controlled Platform, the NASA Plasma Experiment Satellite Test (PEST), and a deployment imaging system (that will image the separation of each payload to be used in the development of automated docking algorithms as well as provide a visual indication of separation). These images will be stored onboard JAWSAT and then downlinked at a later date when JAWSAT itself becomes operational. After JAWSAT reaches its desired polar orbit altitude of 420 miles, it will be about two weeks before PEST is first powered on. PEST will acquire data for at least a two-month period. Amateur Radio satellite operators will get a chance to contribute to the NASA project by recording the PEST data from JAWSAT; data that will help characterize certain aspects of the ionosphere above the D, E, and F layers (where most high frequency signals are reflected). Data from PEST can be received using either a G3RUH modem or a GMSK modem. Data rates could be as high as 38.4 kb/s, and will be transmitted on 437.175 MHz and/or 2403.2 MHz. NASA will publish information on what transmitter is active and instructions for sending in the received data so the PEST teams can use it. If the power budget allows, JAWSAT will also have an analog FM transponder in 'bent pipe' mode. Stay tuned to ANS for more information on these new Amateur Radio satellites! For more information on the PEST project, visit the following URL: http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast04nov99_1.htm [ANS thanks Richard Limebear, G3RWL, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-346.02 ISS UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 346.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-346.02 The International Space Station's altitude was recently raised by an average of 10 statute miles following two thruster firings using jets on the Zarya module. The result of the orbit-raising burns placed the station in a 245 by 238 statute mile orbit in preparation for the arrival of the Zvezda service module early next year. The orbit raising burns occurred about 45 minutes apart with the first lasting 27 seconds. The second burn, designed to nearly circularize the orbit, lasted 23 seconds. The new altitude protects rendezvous options with Zvezda, which will rendezvous with ISS first as a passive vehicle - and then the space station will be ground-commanded to remotely dock with Zvezda. Flight controllers in Moscow also elected to return battery number one to the set of batteries available for electrical usage in an effort to evaluate its health. The battery had been offline for some time when problems were noted in its ability to charge and discharge properly. After operating without problem for a week and a half, battery one telemetry showed the unit no longer discharging properly as designed and it was removed from the electrical bus of the Zarya module. Four batteries remain available for electrical power to Station systems. Meanwhile, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Zvezda is undergoing final testing and is basically ready for launch. While awaiting the recommendations of the investigation team on the recent Proton launch failure, Zvezda will undergo some repeat testing on equipment with the time available. Zvezda, (Russian for Star), will serve as the early living quarters for crews housed on the Station when the Shuttle is not present. It also will provide life support functions and command and control capability for the complex. The International Space Station continues to operate in excellent shape as it orbits the Earth. Since the launch of Zarya in November 1998, ISS has completed more than 5,995 orbits. 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-346.03 CHARLES HARRIS, WB2CHO/VP2ML, SILENT KEY AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 346.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-346.03 For the second straight week ANS is saddened to report on the passing of one of our own. Former AMSAT member, ARRL staffer and CQ magazine DX columnist Charles 'Chod' Harris, WB2CHO/VP2ML, of Santa Rosa, California, died December 8th. Harris suffered from complications from a severe heart attack he suffered in early November. He was 50. An ARRL Life Member, Harris was first licensed in the late 1960s. He was an honor graduate of Princeton University and president of the school's Amateur Radio club. In the mid-1970s, Harris ran the ARRL Club and Training Department. An active contester and active DXer, Harris had operated from several exotic locations. He obtained the callsign VP2ML while living on the island of Montserrat in the late 1970s and early 1980s before moving to California. [ANS extends the sympathy of the entire AMSAT organization to the Harris family at this difficult time] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-346.04 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 346.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-346.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** The first commercial launch of the Ariane 5 rocket took place this past week. According to Florida Today and Arianespace, the launch was a complete success. The main payload (the XMM telescope) reached the desired elliptical orbit and is functioning nominally. Congratulations to both Arianespace and ESA. A video of the launch can be seen at: http://www.arianespace.com/docs_video.html. -ANS ** ANS sends congratulations to Bruce, KK5DO, and the Houston AMSAT Net, as they celebrated their 300th net over commercial satellite. "The net has been around for many years before that but over commercial satellite is a fun thing for us," said KK5DO. -AMSAT-BB ** NASA's Mars Polar Lander has apparently been lost during its landing near the Martian South Pole on December 3rd. Flight controllers at JPL believe that the Lander reached the Martian surface, but for several days thereafter they searched for the expected radio signals in vain. Last contact came just before the spacecraft entered the planet's atmosphere. Because Mars Polar Lander was not designed to transmit to Earth during its descent, we may never learn what went wrong. -S&T ** Ron, KE6JAB, is back in Antarctica, on a short expedition to a mountain area in Dronning Maud land. This will be a cross-country skiing/camping trip, pulling sledges from mountain to mountain. This trip is similar to the last outing and Ron will be taking ham gear in order to transmit text and images from Antarctica. Roy, W0SL, and Jerry, K8SAT, will provide assistance in downloading files and posting information to a website. Check out what Ron is up to at the following URL: http://www.thistle.org Ron's latest message copied from KO-25 by Mike, N1JEZ, is as follows; "We made it to Patriot Hills, QTH 80 18.140S, 81 21.269W. We left Punta Arenas, Friday 9am, arrived PH 3:30pm. Local temp +10F, sunny, clear and light wind. -Ron, KE6JAB ** Mir recently had its orbit raised using the Progress DPO and SKD engines. ANS has not learned of any decision for future maneuvers or schedules. -AMSAT-DC ** The Foundation for Amateur Radio, Inc., a non-profit organization, plans to administer 73 scholarships for the academic year 2000-2001 to assist licensed Radio Amateurs if they plan to pursue a full-time course of study beyond high school and are enrolled in or have been accepted for enrollment at an accredited university, college or technical school. Additional information and an application form may be requested by letter or QSL card, postmarked prior to April 30, 2000 from FAR Scholarships, PO Box 831, Riverdale, MD 20738 -AMSAT-BB ** Paul, W1GHZ, recently added a very simple digital elevation indicator to his 10 GHz terrestrial antenna that also may be used on satellite antenna systems. Pictures of the setup can be found at the following URL: http://www.qsl.net/n1bwt. -Mike, N1JEZ ** The January 2000 issue of QST magazine will contain substantial style and content changes. The editorial revamp and redesign was based on the results of research conducted during the first half of 1999 by the QST editorial team. -ARRL --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-346.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 346.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-346.05 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, in mode-KA with a 10-meter downlink and a 15-meter and 2-meter uplink. 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 worked (and heard) on AO-10, including 8J1RL. 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. John, M1BTR, recently completed his first trans-Atlantic contact on AO-27 (with Luther, W4FIX). 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. The AO-27 pages on the AMSAT-NA web site include an explanation of AO-27 operations (at): http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/ao27.html Chuck, KM4NZ, reset the TEPR states on AO-27 (on 10/11/99). TEPR 4 is 22 TEPR 5 is 58 [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. JAS-1b (FO-20) was launched in February 1990 and 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 Operational, rotated with digital mode and digi-talker. JAS-2 was successfully launched on August 17, 1996, by an H-II launch vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Center. Digital Mode JD Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK Digitalker 435.910 MHz 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: FO-29 command station of JARL announced that the operation sked for FO-29 as follows; December 13 - 19th JD 1200bps PSK mailbox December 20 - January 11th 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-346.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 346.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-346.06 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 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 operational with good data throughput (down link efficiency), averaging in the 70% range. [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. Chris, G7UPN, reported to ANS that UO-22 was 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 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 as follows: 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 Sat Dec 11 12:10:55 1999 uptime is 1910/06:27:21 +X (RX) Temp -6.053 D RX Temp -0.002 D Bat 1 Temp 7.260 D Bat 2 Temp 6.654 D Baseplt Temp 6.049 D RC PSK TX Out 0.616 W RC PSK BP Temp 1.209 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 1.814 D +Y Array Temp 6.049 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 0.603 D +Z Array Temp -0.002 D Total Array C= 0.468 Bat Ch Cur=-0.046 Ifb= 0.020 I+10V= 0.393 TX:010C BCR:7F PWRC:59F BT: A WC:25 EDAC:3B 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 Sat Dec 11 12:25:29 1999 uptime is 497/22:50:51 +X (RX) Temp -3.235 D RX Temp -0.430 D RC PSK TX Out 0.659 W RC PSK BP Temp 0.692 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 1.252 D +Y Array Temp 4.618 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 0.131 D +Z Array Temp -4.917 D Total Array C= 0.322 Bat Ch Cur= 0.125 Ifb= 0.020 I+10V= 0.144 TX:017 BCR:86 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 using an uplink of 436.291 MHz (+/- doppler) and a 145.825 MHz downlink. 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 SunSat schedule is as follows (supplied by Henry Chamberlain, ZS1AAZ): 13-December Antarctic 09:04 to 09:14 UTC 20:25 to 20:35 14-December Antarctic 08:24 to 08:34 UTC 19:45 to 19:55 15-December Antarctic 09:24 to 09:34 UTC 20:45 to 20:55 16-December Antarctic 08:43 to 08:53 UTC 20:05 to 20:15 17-December Antarctic 09:43 to 09:53 UTC 21:05 to 21:15 18-December Australia 00:48 to 01:02 UTC Antarctic 09:06 to 09:20 Europe 09:28 to 09:42 USA 16:06 to 16:20 Antarctic 20:24 to 20:34 19-December Australia 01:49 to 02:03 UTC Antarctic 08:26 to 08:40 Eastern Europe 07:11 to 07:25 South America 13:34 to 13:48 Antarctic 19:45 to 19:55 20-December Antarctic 09:23 to 09:33 UTC 20:44 to 20:54 21-December Antarctic 08:42 to 08:52 UTC 20:04 to 20:14 22-December Antarctic 09:43 to 09:53 UTC 21:04 to 21:14 23-December Antarctic 09:02 to 09:12 UTC 20:23 to 20:33 24-December Antarctic 08:22 to 08:32 UTC 19:43 to 19:53 25-December Japan 01:16 to 01:30 UTC Antarctic 09:26 to 09:40 Europe 08:08 to 08:22 USA/Canada 14:44 to 14:58 Antarctic 20:43 to 20:53 26-December Australia 02:07 to 02:21 UTC Antarctic 08:46 to 09:00 South America 13:50 to 14:04 USA 15:44 to 15:58 Antarctic 20:03 to 20:13 27-December Antarctic 09:42 to 09:52 UTC 19:23 to 19:33 28-December Antarctic 09:01 to 09:11 UTC 20:22 to 20:32 29-December Antarctic 08:20 to 08:30 UTC 19:42 to 19:52 30-December Antarctic 09:20 to 09:30 UTC 20:43 to 20:53 31-December Antarctic 08:40 to 08:50 UTC 20:02 to 20:12 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-346.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 346.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 12, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-346.07 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. 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 December 9th. 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