SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0201
* SpaceNews 01-Feb-99 *


BID: $SPC0201


			       =========
			       SpaceNews
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		        MONDAY FEBRUARY 1, 1999


SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.  It
is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use.


* SUNSAT LAUNCH DELAYS CONTINUE *
=================================
The latest launch attempt of SUNSAT that occurred late last week ended
with a "hang fire" event.  The countdown progressed very well without
a hold, but the launch vehicle failed to ignite at the "zero" mark.
People were immediately told to leave the area as the Delta rocket was
in a very precarious position and was capable of firing at any minute.

It may be some time before the fault is located and corrected, and
another launch is attempted.

[Info via Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR]


* AMSAT-OSCAR-10 NEWS *
=======================
On the evening of 1999-Jan-28, Ib Christoffersen, OZ1MY, observed some
frequency modulation of AMSAT-OSCAR-10's downlink signal.  This instability
may be an indication that the satellite is entering a period of insufficient
sunlight to maintain proper transponder operation.  Such periods are seasonal
in nature.


* KIISAT-OSCAR-23 NEWS *
========================
KITSAT-OSCAR-23 ground command station KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, reports
that KO-23's TX0 transmitter has been tripping off frequently since
1998-Aug-18.  During a recent incident on 1999-Jan-17, the satellite
was reset by controllers only to be found to be silent on the next
pass over the command station.  Controllers observed that one of the
satellite's battery voltages is very unstable, and almost all the
satellite's subsystems were shut down due to a lack of power since
the Jan-17 outtage.  The satellite is expected to be off the air
until the recent problems with KO-23 can be further analyzed.


* MIR/APRS SCHOOL CLUB ROUNDUP *
================================
The annual ARRL School Club Roundup (SCR) event runs from 1999-Feb 8 to 13
and has the objective to get as many schools on the air as possible (all
bands all modes).  Coincidentally, the Space station MIR's orbit during
that week is over the USA during school hours and so makes an ideal
opportunity for the students to participate in satellite communications
as well.

As part of the ongoing APRS/MIR/School experiments, MIREX Dr. Larsen 
has endorsed the maximum participation of all schools to use the MIR
digipeater to exchange communications between schools during this week
long event (do not connect to MIR).  APRS style (UI) operations can handle
as many as 100 stations per pass, so any school with a 2 meter FM radio,
omni whip antenna and a TNC should be successful on 145.985 MHz.  The
APRS/MIR portion of this event is NOT A CONTEST, but an opportunity
for students and schools to learn about space communications.

Everyone is encouraged to contact a local school science teacher and
schedule a time period during that week when you can help set up and/or
operate a school club station.  Even if you cannot transmit for some
reason, the LIVE MIR downlink is always visible on the Naval Academy's
MIREX web page:

	http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/mirex.html

This page shows the results of last years APRS/MIR School testing and
will be updated with specific details about the SCR event (if any).  

The ARRL School Club Roundup contest is described on page 92 of QST
January, 1999 or see http://www.arrl.org/contests.

[Info via Bob Bruninga, WB4APR]


* FO-29 SCHEDULE *
==================
The JARL has released a new operatiing schedule for FUJI-OSCAR-29 that
is expected to remain in effect until 1999-Feb-22:

25-Jan (Mon) -to- 01-Feb (Mon) : Mode JA
03-Feb (Mon) -to- 03-Feb (Wed) : Mode JD (1200 baud)
03-Feb (Wed) -to- 08-Feb (Mon) : Mode JA
08-Feb (Mon) -to- 15-Feb (Mon) : Mode JD (1200 baud)
15-Feb (Mon) -to- 18-Feb (Thu) : Mode JA
19-Feb (Fri) -to- 22-Feb (Mon) : Digitalker

The next schedule is expected to be announced by the JARL on 1999-Feb-10.

[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]


* FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED *
===========================
Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor
(John, KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below:
 
WWW       : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
PACKET    : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET  : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net
SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, KITSAT-OSCAR-25


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