SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0419 * SpaceNews 19-Apr-99 * BID: $SPC0419 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY APRIL 19, 1999 * UoSAT-12 LAUNCH * =================== UoSAT-12, the latest satellite from the University of Surrey, is due for launch this Wednesday on a converted SS-18 ICBM from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. UoSAT-12 carries a number of imaging payloads (up to 10 meter resolution) along with store and forward communications in VHF / UHF and an LS band transponder / high speed digital downlink. The satellite is considerably larger than UO-22 or TO-31, and carries a propulsion system for orbital housekeeping experiments. The imaging system comprises a panchromatic imager with 10m resolution and multispectral imager with 40m resolution along with a colour wide angle camera. The S band downlink can run at speeds up to 1Mb/s for downloading imaging data, and can also be used as a 1 MHz wide LS band analogue transponder. UoSAT-12 will be placed into a 640km by 66 degree inclination orbit. The downlink frequency is 437.400 MHz and during the initial orbits it will be transmitting the VLSI telemetry format at 9600 bd FSK. Additional information is available at: http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/CSER/UOSAT/missions/uo12/index.html [Info via Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO] * FUJI-OSCAR-29 NEWS * ====================== The JARL's FO-29 command station has released a new operating schedule for the period of mid-April through the end of May. The schedule is as follows: 12-Apr-99 (Mon) - 27-Apr-99 (Tue) Mode JA 28-Apr-99 (Wed) - 06-May-99 (Thu) Digitalker 07-May-99 (Fri) - 17-May-99 (Mon) Mode JA 17-May-99 (Mon) - 24-May-99 (Mon) Mode JD (1200 bps PSK) 24-May-99 (Mon) - 31-May-99 (Mon) Mode JA [Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK] * OSCAR-11 NEWS * ================= Clive Wallis reports that during the period 16 March to 15 April 1999, good signals have been received from OSCAR-11's 145.826 MHz beacon transmitter. Telemetry shows that OSCAR-11's battery voltage during daylight passes has decreased particularly towards the end of the reporting period. The average value is 13.6 volts, with 13.3 volts recorded on one occassion. The internal temperatures have decreased slightly and are now 4.0C and 2.2C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. The WOD survey dated 06-January-99 of solar array currents and array voltage (channels 10, 20, 30, 40 (+Y, -X, +X, V)) has now been replaced by channels 39, 50, 52, and 63 (telemetry electronics temperature, battery charge current, battery voltage, and BCR status). A quick look at current WOD surveys show the battery voltage varying between 13.4 and 14.1 volts during sunlight, and a steady decrease to 12.3 volts during the eclipse period. OSCAR-11's operating schedule remains 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 that details modes and frequencies of all the amateur radio satellites. Additional status blocks are transmitted after each bulletinand also between ASCII TLM and WOD transmissions. The Mode-S beacon is currently ON transmitting an unmodulated carrier. However, telemetry indicates that the beacon transmitter has partially failed and delivering half power. This beacon is a useful test source for those testing Mode-S converters, prior to the launch of P3-D. It is considerably weaker than DOVE, which should be used for initial testing. Any reports of reception on 2401 MHz would be most welcome, and should be directed to Clive Wallis at: g3cwv@amsat.org. The 435.025 MHz beacon is normally OFF. However, it can sometimes be heard when the satellite is being commanded by ground control (within range of Guildford, UK). When the 435 MHz beacon is transmitting, the 145 MHz beacon is normally OFF. The data transmitted is mainly binary. Listeners to OSCAR-11 may be interested in visiting an OSCAR-11 web site that contains details of hardware required and some software for capturing data, and decoding ASCII telemetry and WOD transmitted by OSCAR-11. An archive of raw data (mainly WOD) is available for analysis which is continually being expanded as new data is captured. Also included are some audio files that provide examples of each type of data transmitted by OSCAR-11. Each one plays for about ten seconds. There are also examples of Mode-S reception. All the audio files are zipped so that they can be played off-line. These are intended to help listeners identify the various types of data transmitted by OSCAR-11, and give an indication of the signal quality required for successful data decoding. Recent additions were made to the web site to include WOD surveys dated 10-Oct-98 and 04-Jan-99, Magnetometer channels 1, 2, 3, 61 and channels 10, 20, 30, 40, and Solar Array Currents and Voltage dated 06-Jan-99. The survey dated 04 January is from a single pass and would benefit by being merged with other data captured from this survey. The program TOSPLOT.BAS has recently been updated to version 1.2. Unfortunately, there was a minor error in the previous version of TOSPLOT that caused problems when processing WOD surveys with dates after 1998. The current version of U2WOD has been updated, but if this package was downloaded BEFORE 27-March-1999, then the new version of TOSPLOT.BAS should be downloaded. TOSPLOT is only required if listeners wish to use the SPLOT plotting program written by the University of Surrey. No other files in U2AWOD package have been changed, and here are no problems with SPLOT.EXE The URL for the OSCAR-11 Web page is: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ [Info via Clive Wallis, G3CWV] * TMSAT NEWS * ============== The OBC flight software on TMSAT crashed some time on the morning of Friday April 16 and was promptly reloaded by controllers from Surrey. GU8IRF has received a number of images taken by TMSAT's earth imaging cameras, and has uploaded several of these images to the KITSAT-OSCAR-25 satellite for general download in JPG format. * AMSAT-UK CALL FOR PAPERS * ============================ The 14th AMSAT-UK Colloquium, SpaceComm '99, will be held at Surrey University, Guildford, Surrey, UK, from Friday 23rd July to Sunday 25th July 1999. See below for information about a "beginners' session". AMSAT-UK invites authors to submit papers about amateur radio space and associated activities for this event and for the "Proceedings" document which will be published at the same time. AMSAT-UK normally prefers authors to present the papers themselves rather than having someone else read them in the authors' absence, but they also welcome "unpresented" papers for the document. Offers of Papers should be submitted as soon as possible; the final date for full documents is mid-June 1999 in order that the "Proceedings" document be available to participants. Submissions should be sent *ONLY* to G3RWL, via the following routes: Internet e-mail: g3rwl@amsat.org Packet Radio: G3RWL @ GB7HSN.#32.GBR.EU Satellite: OSCARS 16/22/25 Terrestrial mail: R W L Limebear G3RWL 60 Willow Road Enfield EN1 3NQ United Kingdom. (no fax available) AMSAT-UK also invites anyone with requests for Program Topics (especially topics for beginners) to submit them as soon as possible to G3RWL. This year, organizers are running sessions specifically for beginners to amateur satellite operating. There will be two (identical) sessions, one on Saturday morning and the other on Sunday morning; these will run in parallel with the regular presentations. You do not have to be a member of AMSAT-UK to come to this popular international event. Colloquium booking information is expected to issue shortly. 73 Richard G3RWL Colloquium Programme organiser * GET WELL W3IWI * ================== AMSAT-NA Board of Directors member Dr. Tom Clark, W3IWI had heart bypass surgery on Thursday April 15th at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Get well wishes may be sent to: tac@clark.net or 6388 Guilford Rd, Clarksville, Maryland 21029. [Info via Martha Saragovitz] * 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 <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> <<=- Serving the planet (and beyond) since 1987 -=>> /EX