SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.01 PHASE 3D/AO-40 UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 24, 2000 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-359.01 The non-transmission problem with AO-40 continues. The satellite has not transmitted any telemetry since December 13, 2000, which was shortly after the first burn of the 400-N motor. AMSAT-DL's Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, informed ANS that the command-assist timeouts expected recently have all passed with no observations -- and command stations again tried to re-establish communication by sending blind commands. The command-assist watchdog timers are software timers programmed to cycle through various AO-40 receiver, transmitter and antenna systems. The AO-40 command team was encouraged recently by information received from the North American Air Defense Command that indicated AO-40 was found to be in one piece with a radar cross-section as expected and that no other pieces were found by the radar sweeps. AMSAT-DL President and P3D Project Leader Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, summarized recent command station events and activities performed on AO-40: A large number of attempts have been made to hear AO-40 according to the pattern followed by command-assist. In addition the 70-cm downlink has been monitored with some large antennas. None of these attempts have resulted in anything heard from AO-40. We are now assuming that the IHU is not running the regular spacecraft program and has either crashed or is nonfunctional. Thus, we have entered the part of our recovery strategy where we will try to reset the IHU and then uplink new software. After reviewing our strategy we have concluded not to uplink the standard IPS routine (the regular spacecraft software), but to uplink short programs with the only objective to activate various downlink configurations. These programs will be uploaded after the IHU is reset. The primary target is to establish communication. Once we have a downlink going, then and only then will we try to upload IPS again to put the satellite into a regular state. A number of programs have been prepared to this end, and presently they are being debugged on a ground IHU. Once they work reliably as intended, we will start to uplink these modules. In view of the large number of options which need to be tried, this process may take (up to) several days. Work is continuing over the Christmas holidays - and I will report our progress. So, for the moment, and in spite of the troubles we have with AO-40, I wish you a Merry Christmas and happiness in the new year (which should of course, include AO-40). 73's, Karl, DJ4ZC The following statement was taken from the AMSAT-DL web site: Even during the Christmas days AO-40-command stations are active. It must be assumed the IHU-1 has crashed. Preparations of a special reset software have been completed to switch a transmitter and IF-matrix immediately to the V-band middle beacon without uploading the whole operational software. Command stations have already started sending the reset commands to the spacecraft. So far, no success. Command stations will continue to reset and upload using different command receivers. Even if we do not have immediate success, there are still a couple of possibilities to try. AMSAT-DL Ken, N2WWD, released the following latest NORAD/Space Command Keplerian elements for AO-40: 1 26609U 00072B 00358.71368715 -.00000218 00000-0 00000-0 0 179 2 26609 6.1593 236.5032 8131813 196.8718 93.7933 1.26873926 676 Ken reports these orbital elements have a "22 second along track difference when compared with NORAD set #16." Stay tuned to ANS, the official source of information on AMSAT OSCAR 40. [ANS thanks AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-NA and the ARRL for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.02 AMSAT-NA PRESIDENTS LETTER HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 24, 2000 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-359.02 ANS is (again) including the 'President's Letter'. The letter is authored by AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH. The President's letter is planned as a regular, monthly feature in ANS. The first letter was included in ANS-331. This second letter from VE3FRH was also recently transmitted as a Special ANS Bulletin. To All AMSAT Members, It is proposed to hold an inquiry into the incident which has resulted in the loss of communication with AO-40. Although it is hoped that the loss of communication is a temporary situation, AMSAT believes that it is in the best interests of our organization to determine all the facts surrounding this incident and to make sure that a similar situation cannot happen again either on AO-40 or on a future satellite. Our primary function at this time is still the recovery of AO-40, but we are also beginning to lay the plans for this inquiry. When the P3D project was first developed, a Program Board was developed to oversee the project and put in place such other committees as may be necessary during the life of P3D (now AO-40). This Program Board represents the membership of each of the major organizations which have contributed to the P3D project (i.e. AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-UK, DARC, and the ARRL). It is this Program Board that will meet on your behalf to determine the requirements of the inquiry, such as the terms of reference and the actual size of the Inquiry Committee itself. The Program Board will be responsible to make sure that the inquiry meets the requirements of the membership and will be responsible for publicizing the results of the inquiry. AMSAT-DL will present the Program Board with some initial suggestions on the scope, size, etc. in early January 2001. The Program Board will review these within two weeks and make any modifications that they feel are necessary (during a teleconference) also to be held in January. It is hoped that the Inquiry Committee will start work shortly thereafter. Although we do not wish to limit the scope of work, we would like the Inquiry Committee to report it's findings relatively quickly, with this time to be determined by the Program Board. Any or all the AMSAT personnel who worked on the P3D project may be asked to assist the Inquiry Committee. On a slightly different - but related - topic, in order to make sure that everyone is up to date with known facts, Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, is preparing an overall review of the loss of transmission incident, to show what has actually taken place and the actions that have been attempted to try and recover AO-40. This is being written in response to many requests for detailed information and will contain all known information. Peter, like the rest of us, is a volunteer with a normal job, but he hopes to have this review out shortly. Another action that is underway is a review of future projects by the AMSAT-NA Project Committee. For some time we have been receiving input for the next generation of satellites and this information has been passed to the Project Committee for their review and recommendation. We realize that even when AO-40 is hopefully recovered, now is also the time to start looking at our next project(s). The Board of Directors of AMSAT-NA will meet in late February to receive initial recommendations from the Project Committee and to determine the next steps. Wishing you all the very best for the holiday season, Robin Haighton, VE3FRH [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.03 ARISS SCHOOL CONTACT SUCCESSFUL HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 24, 2000 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-359.03 After some initial difficulty on the first try, AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human Spaceflight Programs (and ARISS Chairman) Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, told ANS that the first ARISS school contact was a success! Over 500 elementary and middle school students in the Chicago land area got a rare opportunity to connect with the cosmos. Students at the Luther Burbank School closed their textbooks and used Amateur Radio to communicate with the crew aboard the International Space Station. "Our school vibrated with excitement and activity," said Rita Wright, a teacher at the Burbank school and the project's coordinator. "If you walked into our school today and wandered down the halls, you would be surprised at the variety of topics, activities, and displays of work all centered around the space station mission." During the 10 minute contact with the Burbank School, astronaut Bill Shepherd, KD5GSL, answered 16 questions from the students and the coordinating teacher. These included a great question from Brittany Cook, a 5th grade student. She asked, "Do you have any advice for young students who might want a career in space exploration?" Bill Shepherd's response was, "Boy I sure do, that's a great question. I'd just like to say that there are probably only a few people who will be astronauts or cosmonauts. But there are tens of thousands of people who work on this team that we're on and they're all interesting and important jobs. So just because somebody says well...the chance of being a cosmonaut or astronaut is really low does not mean that should not stay in school do well, and study science and math and those things that are going to make you a real contributor to the space program because there are just hundreds of things you can do as well." Located in a Chicago suburb, the Burbank school is the first school to use the ARISS ham radio program to contact the Expedition-1 crew aboard ISS. KA3HDO told ANS "the contact itself is just the tip of the iceberg!" Many more such contacts are in the planning stages. More information about the Burbank School contact with ISS can be viewed at: http://www.msnbc.com/news/505064.asp#BODY [ANS thanks the ARISS team and ARISS Chairman / AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human Spaceflight Programs Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.04 YOU'RE INVITED TO OSCAR SKN 2001 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 352.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 24, 2000 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-352.04 All Amateur Radio operators worldwide are cordially invited to participate in AMSAT-NA's 29th annual Straight Key Night on OSCAR, to be held from 00:00 to 24:00 UTC on January 1, 2001. It's totally informal; there are no rules, no scoring and no need to even submit a log! The whole idea is just have fun operating Morse Code with a straight hand key via any Amateur Radio satellite (including the moon, OSCAR Zero). To participate, call CQ SKN or answer such calls from other stations. In keeping with the friendly tradition of this event, each participant is encouraged to nominate someone he or she worked for 'Best Fist'. Those nominated will be listed in a future AMSAT News Service bulletin and in the AMSAT-NA Journal. Please send all best fist nominations to W2RS: E-mail: w2rs@amsat.org Packet radio: W2RS @ WA2SNA.NJ.USA.NA Best fist nominations may also be sent to the W2RS callbook address. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA Executive Vice President Ray Soifer, W2RS, for this information] SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.05 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 24, 2000 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-359.05 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** The Department of Defense has awarded Iridium Satellite LLC a $72 million contract for 24 months of satellite communications services. This contract would provide unlimited airtime for 20,000 government users over the Iridium satellite network. -SpaceDaily ** The FCC has suspended its regulatory limit on the reimbursement fee for Amateur Radio examinations, and the ARRL says a new $10 test fee will go into effect January 1. An FCC Public Notice explained that the Commission did not plan to announce a maximum fee for 2001 since the requirement to do so no longer appears in the Communications Act. -ARRL ** Hubble has caught the eerie, wispy tendrils of a dark interstellar cloud being destroyed by the passage of one of the brightest stars in the Pleiades star cluster. Like a flashlight beam shining off the wall of a cave, the star is reflecting light off the surface of pitch black clouds of cold gas laced with dust. -SpaceDaily ** Space Station Alpha's first resident crew will get to stay in space longer than planned because of a tight shuttle launch schedule. The launch of the new ISS crew on shuttle Discovery has been pushed back to March 1st. The current crew has more than enough food and water to make it through the additional two weeks. -ARRL ** Anyone for a jolt into space? If warp drive sounds weird, how about jolt propulsion using a juddering magnet... a scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy is investigating a bizarre new way of propelling spacecraft. Check out the details at the following URL: http://www.spacedaily.com/news/future-00r.html. -SpaceDaily ** The cost of an IRC will increase from $1.05 to $1.75 on January 7th. A one-ounce letter sent via air mail to anywhere in the world from the U.S. (except Canada and Mexico) will now cost 80 cents. A two-ounce air mail letter will cost anywhere from $1.55 to $1.70, depending on where it's going. The complete rate schedule is available on the USPS Web site, at the following URL: http://www.usps.gov/news/2001rate.htm. -ARRL --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 352.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 17, 2000 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-352.06 Phase 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 / AO-40 V-band beacon: 145.898 MHz Launched: November 16, 2000 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. A 50-second video of the launch can be seen at: http://arianespace.com/interior/v135better.mov Status: unknown, no telemetry received since December 13, 2000 The health of AO-40 is still being assessed following the loss of telemetry on December 13th. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL for this information] INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/ARISS Worldwide packet uplink: 145.990 MHz Region 1 voice uplink: 145.200 MHz Region 2/3 voice uplink: 144.490 MHz Worldwide downlink: 145.800 MHz TNC callsign RZ3DZR ARISS initial station launched September 2000 aboard shuttle Atlantis Status: Operational (although current ISS workload is limiting operation) ARISS is made up of delegates from major national Amateur Radio organizations, including AMSAT. U.S. callsign: NA1SS (NN1SS will be used for ground-based transmissions from the Goddard Space Flight Center) Russian callsign: RZ3DZR German call sign: DL0ISS RZ3DZR is also the callsign entered into the TNC currently onboard Alpha. More information about the project can be found on the ARISS web site at http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov. [ANS thanks ARISS team member Will Marchant, KC6ROL, for this information] RADIO SPORT RS-13 Uplink 21.260 to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 145.860 to 145.900 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 145.860 MHz Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher Status: Operational, mode T Kevin, AC5DK, reported to ANS that "questions continue to come into the RS-12/13 forum. Most problems still stem from incorrect Mode T downlink frequencies. What further compounds the problem is that the RS-12 upper beacon is being confused with the RS-13 lower beacon, but in actuality it is 100 kHz lower." AC5DK adds "I would also like to remind everyone to always doppler adjust the higher frequency when using RS-13; in this case it's the 2-meter receive frequency. I suggest never adjusting the 15-meter uplink as you may QSY into an ongoing terrestrial QSO and become unwelcome QRM... and always listen on your uplink frequency before transmitting." The latest information on RS-12 and RS-13 can be found on the AC5DK RS-12/13 Satellite Operators page at: http://www.qsl.net/ac5dk/rs1213/rs1213.html [ANS thanks Kevin Manzer, AC5DK, for this information] 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) Launched: December 26, 1994 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Status: 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 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 [ANS thanks Dave Guimont, WB6LLO, for this information] 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) Launched: June 16, 1983 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana Status: 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. John, K6YK , reports contacts with V73SP, 7M4DUI, JA2ACI, 7K4GUR, FO5QS, LU8MB, V73AT, ZL2VAL, KP3A, V73UX, ZL2MN, LU7DZ, LW4DIR, PY3PSI, LW8EXH, EA7VRP, FG5GI, PY2RN, 9Y4AT, LU1VD, CT1BOY, F2WB, ON5NY, G7LRQ, DL8YS, PY0FF, F1RHS, M1BTR and F1ORL. "Pretty good activity," said K6YK. ANS agrees! 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 Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana Status: Operational, mode J Periodically, AO-27's analog repeater will be turned off for a few days at a time to enable ground controllers to gather Whole Orbital Data (WOD), to verify the health of the satellite. An AO-27 question-and-answer page is available on the AMSAT-NA web site. The URL is: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/intro/ao27faq.html. 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 current TEPR settings (as of November 25, 2000) are: TEPR 4 18 TEPR 5 36 The AO-27 pages on the AMSAT-NA web site include an explanation of TEPR AO-27 operations (at): http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/ao27.html [ANS thanks AMRAD for AO-27 information] UO-14 Uplink 145.975 MHz FM Downlink 435.070 MHz FM Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana Status: Operational, mode J Tim, KG8OC, has updated the Michigan AMSAT Information site to include UO-14 information -- point your web browser to the following URL: http://www.qsl.net/kg8oc [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for UO-14 information] SUNSAT SO-35 Mode J Uplink: 145.825 MHz FM Mode J Downlink: 436.250 MHz FM Mode B Uplink: 436.291 MHz FM Mode B Downlink: 145.825 MHz FM Launched: February 23, 1999 by a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California Status: Operational. 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 in addition to Mode B/J operation. The satellite has two VHF and two UHF transmit-receive systems. For more information on SunSat, including the official operating schedule, visit the following URL: http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za A summary of the active modes and frequency allocations for SunSat is available at the following URL: http://esl.ee.sun.ac.za/~lochner/sunsat/modes.html [ANS thanks Garth Milne, ZR1AFH, for this information] JAS-1b FO-20 Uplink 145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Launched: February 07, 1990 by an H1 launcher from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan Status: Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously Tak, JA2PKI, reported the FO-20 control station operators believe that the UVC (Under Voltage Controller) now is regulating the transponder. The UVC monitors battery voltage and tries to protect the batteries from over discharge. Tak notes that FO-20, launched in 1990, is now over 10 years old. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status reports] JAS-2 FO-29 Launched: August 17, 1996, by an H-2 launcher from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan Status: Operational Voice/CW Mode JA Uplink 145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Digital Mode JD Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM Downlink 435.910 MHz 1200 baud BPSK or 9600 baud FSK Callsign 8J1JCS Digitalker 435.910 MHz The JARL FO-29 command station has announced the following operation schedule of FO-29: Dec. 25 - Jan. 7 mode JA Mike, KF4FDJ, has put together a very informative document on FO-29, addressing the analog, digital and digi-talker modes. To obtain a copy e-mail Mike at: kf4fdj@amsat.org. Mineo, JE9PEL, has a FO-29 satellite telemetry analysis program that will automatically analyze all digital telemetry from the satellite (such as current, voltage and temperature). The JE9PEL FO-29/shareware is available at the following URL: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-29 status reports] SAUDISAT-1A Uplink to be released Downlink 437.075 MHz Broadcast Callsign SASAT1-11 BBS SASAT1-12 Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Status: Commissioning stage, initial housekeeping tasks underway SaudiSat-1A will operate as 9600 baud digital store-and-forward systems as well analog FM repeater mode capability. One of two new ham satellites from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia built by the Space Research Institute at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. SAUDISAT-1B Uplink to be released Downlink 436.775 MHz Broadcast Callsign SASAT2-11 BBS SASAT2-12 Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Status: Commissioning stage, initial housekeeping tasks underway SaudiSat-1B will operate as 9600 baud digital store-and-forward systems as well analog FM repeater mode capability. One of two new ham satellites from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia built by the Space Research Institute at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 24, 2000 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-359.07 TIUNGSAT-1 Uplink 145.850 or 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK Downlink 437.325 MHz Broadcast callsign MYSAT3-11 BBS MYSAT3-12 Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Status: Operational, 38k4 baud FSK Chris, G7UPN, tells ANS that recently, TiungSat-1 has been operating at a data rate of 38k4. Data recovery at 38k4 is reported to be extremely good with efficiencies near 100%. The output power is at 8-watts "which should provide a very good downlink," said Chris, adding "the downside is that with the high power transmitter operating, the power budget is negative so we can't support continuous operation." According to G7UPN, TiungSat-1 now requires the Amateur Radio station to switch the downlink 'on' when the satellite comes into range. The way this works is for the ground station software to send a request to the spacecraft to switch the downlink on. The spacecraft receives this request and checks the battery voltage to see if it can support the operation, and if it can it will activate the downlink. TiungSat-1 is Malaysia's first micro-satellite and in addition to commercial land and weather imaging payloads offers FM and FSK Amateur Radio communication. TiungSat-1, named after the mynah bird of Malaysia, was developed as a collaborative effort between the Malaysian government and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. For more information on TiungSat-1, visit the following URL: http://www.yellowpages.com.my/tiungsat/tiung_main.htm [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for this information] KITSAT KO-25 Uplink 145.980 MHz FM (9600 baud FSK) Downlink 436.500 MHz FM Broadcast Callsign HL02-11 BBS HL02-12 Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana Status: Operational Jim, AA7KC, reports nominal KO-25 operation with moderate traffic. [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 Broadcast Callsign UOSAT5-11 BBS UOSAT5-12 Launched: July 17, 1991 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana Status: Operational Jim, AA7KC, reports nominal UO-22 operation with heavy individual station and Satgate traffic. 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 Launched: March 1, 1984 by a Delta-Thor rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California Status: Operational OSCAR-11 celebrated its sixteenth birthday in space on March 1, 2000. 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] LUSAT LO-19 Uplink 145.84 145.86 145.88 145.90 MHz FM (using 1200 baud Manchester FSK) CW downlink 437.125 MHz Digital downlink 437.150 MHz SSB (RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK) Broadcast Callsign LUSAT-11 BBS LUSAT-12 Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana Status: Semi-operational. The CW beacon is sending eight telemetry channels and one status channel on 437.136 MHz. No BBS service is available. The digipeater is not active. Telemetry (limited) is as follows: Sat Dec 16 at 10:46 2000 UTC LUSAT HIHI 60 AUN ADT AVA AD4 AUV A6B A4N AE6 Mineo, JE9PEL, has recorded LO-19 CW and PSK telemetry and placed the information on his Internet homepage site at: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ General information and telemetry samples can be found at: www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for LO-19 status information] PACSAT AO-16 Uplink 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.96 MHz FM (using 1200 baud Manchester FSK) Downlink 437.025 MHz SSB (RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK) Mode-S Beacon 2401.1428 MHz Broadcast Callsign: PACSAT-11 BBS PACSAT-12 Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana Status: Semi-operational, the digipeater command is on Russ, WJ9F, reported he has been doing some WOD (Whole Orbit Data) collections recently and has had the S-band transmitter on during some passes. Russ has a software update planned that may allow (hopefully) continuous S-band operation. Telemetry is as follows: Beacon text: AO-16 S-Band Tx testing to begin shortly Pacsat owned and operated by AMSAT-NA AO-16 Command Team uptime is 307/06:48:24. Time is Sat Dec 16 10:23:22 2000 +X (RX) Temp 7.865 D RX Temp 1.209 D BCR Load Cur 0.436 A PSK TX RF Out 1.780 W BCR Input Cur 0.427 A BCR Output Cur 0.354 A Bat 1 Temp 6.654 D Bat 2 Temp 6.654 D Baseplt Temp 6.654 D RC PSK BP Temp -0.607 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 0.603 D +Y Array Temp -0.607 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 3.024 D +Z Array Temp 18.151 D Total Array C= 0.426 Bat Ch Cur=-0.081 Ifb= 0.002 I+10V= 0.434 TX:1009 BCR:82 PWRC:26D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:63 A new WOD collection of current graphics along with general information and telemetry samples can be found at: www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for AO-16 status information] TMSAT-1 TO-31 Uplink 145.925 MHz (9600 baud FSK) Downlink 436.925 MHz (9600 baud FSK) Broadcast Callsign: TMSAT1-11 BBS TMSAT1-12 Launched: July 10, 1998 by a Zenit rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Status: Operational Chris G7UPN, (UoSAT operations manager) reports the following to ANS: Over the next few days - or possibly couple of weeks - the TO-31 downlink will be off over most areas, with the exception of Europe and Thailand. This is required to allow control stations to recondition the battery with minimum power drain. I am trying to get this moving as quickly as possible however with Christmas holidays it may take slightly longer than normal. 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 Many of the high-resolution color images transmitted by TMSAT are compressed using a UoSAT compression format. This format is supported by the VK5HI CCD display program. [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for TO-31 status information] UoSAT-12 UO-36 Uplink 145.960 MHz (9600 baud FSK) Downlink 437.025 MHz 437.400 MHz Broadcast Callsign UO121-11 BBS UO121-12 Launched: April 21, 1999 by a Russian launcher from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Status: Operational UO-36 carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward communications and mode L/S transponders. NASA has demonstrated on UO-36 the ability to use standard Internet protocols to communicate with an orbiting spacecraft (just like any node on the Internet). NASA has been developing this project by working with the commercial payload aboard UoSAT-12. The BBS is open, although uploading and downloading may be disabled at times. The VK5HI viewer shareware for UO-36 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 Broadcast Callsign ITMSAT-11 BBS ITMSAT-12 Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana Status: Semi-operational, the digipeater function is on and open for APRS users [ANS thanks ITAMSAT Project Manager Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD, for IO-26 information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.08 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.08 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 24, 2000 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-359.08 THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: KITSAT KO-23 Uplink 145.900 MHz FM (9600 baud FSK) Downlink 435.170 MHz FM Broadcast Callsign HLO1-11 BBS HLO1-12 Launched: August 10, 1992 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana Status: Intermittent operation with the downlink transmitter operating at unpredictable intervals Jim, AA7KC, reports that KO-23's downlink transmitter continues in non-operational status. Jim says that KO-23 shows some signs of trying to recover, but no useful data has been downlinked. The duration of this status is unpredictable. No data has been received since October 28, 2000. KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, reports (from the KO-23 control team) that part of the problem with non-operation has been the power budget aboard the satellite. "We are not sure when the bird might turn off again due to insufficient power. The capability of the onboard power system has been less and less," said Kim. HL0ENJ also noted that as of October 30, 2000 the onboard computer was reset and a reboot of operational software is now underway. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, for KO-23 status information] 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 Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher Status: unconfirmed ANS has received reports from several stations that the 29.408 MHz RS-12 beacon has been heard. The beacon telemetry indicated that both the 10 and 2-meter receivers aboard RS-12 are currently off. Jerry, K5OE, reports both the 2 and 10-meter beacons have been heard at his QTH, (although the 10-meter beacon has been intermittent). [ANS thanks K5OE and AC5DK for this information] TECHSAT-1B GO-32 Downlink 435.225 MHz using HDLC telemetry Launched: July 10, 1998 by a Russian Zenit rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Status: Semi-operational Efforts were reported to be underway to bring GO-32 on line, however, no information has been received by ANS (the last report was dated November 1999). Last reported, the satellite does transmit a 9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (the GO-32 beacon sends one short telemetry status transmission of 44 bytes) and upon request the complete telemetry buffer. [ANS has no further information] PANSAT PO-34 Uplink/downlink frequencies have never been released Launched: October 30, 1998 by the Shuttle Discovery Status: Unknown The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions. PanSat was developed by the Naval Postgraduate School. At the time of launch, PanSat spread-spectrum digital transponders were promised to be available to Amateur Radio operators along with software to utilize this technology. To date, this has not happened. For more information, visit the official PanSat web site at: http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/pansat/ PanSat was the featured cover article on the July/August 1999 issue of the AMSAT-NA Journal (the story written by KD6DRA and N7HPR). [ANS has no further information] MIR SPACE STATION 145.985 MHz (FM) voice and SSTV (Robot 36 Mode) Launched: February 18, 1986 Status: Unmanned Currently, there is no human habitation aboard the station and the onboard Amateur Radio equipment has been turned off. Several news agencies have reported that Mir in now on 'autopilot'. Several news agencies are reporting the Mir space station will be ditched this coming February in a controlled descent that will send it hurtling into a remote area of the Pacific Ocean. Stay tuned to ANS for further details. MIR SAFEX II 70-cm Repeater Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone of 141.3 Hz Downlink 437.950 MHz FM Status: Not operational. No operation in 1999 or 2000 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 Status: Not operational. No operation in 1999 or 2000 has been observed [ANS has no further information] DOVE DO-17 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM (1200 baud AFSK) 2401.220 MHz Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana Status: 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. [ANS has no further information] WEBERSAT WO-18 Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB (1200 baud PSK AX.25) Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana Status: Non-operational WO-18 was last reported to be in MBL mode after a software crash. [ANS has no further information] SEDSAT-1 SO-33 Downlink 437.910 MHz FM (9600 baud FSK) Launched: October 24, 1998 by a Delta 2 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida Status: Semi-operational The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions and the image and transponder recovery efforts have been unsuccessful. SedSat-1 signifies Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (satellite number one). SedSat-1 has downlinked months worth of telemetry data on the performance of its electrical power system parameters. The Nickel Metal Hydride batteries on the spacecraft were experimental and experienced some abuse due to a power negative situation. This information has provided NASA with useful information. With the exception of the imaging system and the use of the transponders, SedSat-1 has been judged a success. For more information on SedSat-1 visit the satellite web site at the following URL: http://seds.uah.edu/projects/sedsat/sedsat.htm [ANS has no further information] /EX