SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.01 AMSAT SPECIAL BULLETIN AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 361.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 26, 2000 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-361.01 ANS is pleased to confirm that AO-40 is transmitting on 2401.305 MHz. Prior to this confirmation, the satellite had not transmitted any signals since December 13, 2000, which was shortly after the first burn of the 400-N motor. Peter, DB2OS, provided ANS with the following information: On December 25, 2000 at 21:45 UTC command station ZL1AOX transmitted a L-band reset command which included an initialization block to switch 'on' one of the two S-band transmitters onboard AO-40. Just after the first attempt, AO-40's S-2 beacon was received by Ian, ZL1AOX, on 2401.305 MHz. The signal strength was S-5 to S-6, which compares to S-2 when the beacon was last heard last during testing in early December. AO-40's S-band transmitter produced a steady signal at ZL1AOX and from the doppler wobbling it was also clear that it was in fact coming from AO-40. ZL1AOX reported that he was able to copy and observe the S-2 beacon until LOS at 03:45:15 UTC. Predicted LOS from NORAD's orbital set #12 indicated a LOS within 5 seconds of that time. At the time of reception, AO-40's approximate distance from ZL1AOX was 61,470 kilometers. Later today (December 26th), ZL1AOX will re-acquire AO-40 shortly after perigee with a reasonably good squint angle. He will than start reloading AO-40's IPS software. Until that task is completed, AO-40's beacon will not carry any telemetry, just carrier. Stay tuned to ANS for additional bulletins from AMSAT, the official source for information on AMSAT OSCAR-40. [ANS thanks AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-NA for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.02 AMSAT SPECIAL BULLETIN AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 361.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 26, 2000 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-361.02 AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, provided ANS with the following statement regarding AO-40's recent S-band transmissions on 2401.305 MHz: The excellent news of contact with AO-40 through the L-band uplink and S-band downlink has been received with joy and relief by AMSAT members around the world. AMSAT-DL issued a bulletin giving the news that everyone had hoped for on Christmas day, a fantastic gift to the Amateur Radio community. On behalf of the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors, I wish to congratulate all those concerned in the recovery effort. While we all realize that this is just the first step in many, without making this initial 2-way contact with AO-40, recovery would not be possible. The recovery procedures are a true team effort between Project Leader Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, the command stations and the other members of the P3D/AO-40 team. In conclusion, I wish the team continued success, and I am sure that all of our thoughts are with them as they continue to work on behalf of AMSAT members world wide. 73, Robin Haighton, VE3FRH President, AMSAT-NA Stay tuned to ANS for additional bulletins from AMSAT, the official source for information on AMSAT OSCAR-40. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-361.03 AMSAT SPECIAL BULLETIN AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 361.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 26, 2000 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-361.03 AMSAT-DL President (and P3D Project leader) Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, provided ANS with additional information regarding AO-40's recent S-band transmissions on 2401.305 MHz: Ian, ZL1AOX, has succeeded in loading IPS software and a minimal operational package into AO-40. As a consequence, AO-40 is now sending telemetry (A blocks) that will enable an analysis of the status of the spacecraft. A first (quick) look has revealed that some temperature sensors and possibly some current sensors have been lost by whatever incident caused the telemetry transmissions to stop. However, the power situation, in particular the battery voltages, look nominal. We will now start a detailed analysis of the situation; the command stations will continue to follow a conservative philosophy with the primary target of not causing any additional damage along with retaining as much evidence as possible for the analysis of the incident. Furthermore, command stations will now try to uplink the entire operational software package, which in particular should establish positive control over the power generation system. From there on, the communications capabilities of the spacecraft will be explored. The 2-meter transmitter is considered off limits for the time being (in case that it may have been damaged and thus might have the potential to cause the IHU to crash). The risk is too large before the Warte-Orbits and Command-Assist programs have been updated to reflect the actual capabilities of the satellite available after the incident. In summary, we can state that the command stations have now regained control over AO-40. During the next few days we hope to learn to what extent the satellite was damaged and to what extent this will impact mission targets. When we have further analysis, I will report again. 73's, Karl, DJ4ZC Stay tuned to ANS for additional bulletins from AMSAT, the official source for information on AMSAT OSCAR-40. [ANS thanks AMSAT-DL President (and P3D Project leader) Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, for this information] /EX