SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0626 * SpaceNews 26-Jun-00 * BID: $SPC0626 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY JUNE 26, 2000 * WERNER HAAS: SILENT KEY * =========================== On Tuesday June 13th 2000, Werner Haas, DJ5KQ, Vice President of AMSAT-DL, and one of the leaders for the design, development and construction of all Phase 3 Satellites, including Phase 3-D, became a Silent Key. From an early age on, Werner was fascinated by radio. This determined the choice of his professional career, and in 1959 he took his license exam to become a Radio Amateur with heart and soul. Initially, Werner started his career in the electronic retail business, but in 1965 he joined the ZEL of the University of Marburg in which he could fully bring to bear his genius for electronic development. But his interests and ambitions reached beyond the purely professional. In the early seventies, Werner got intrigued by the possibilities offered by combining radio technology and space satellites. This combination of disciplines became the guiding star for the rest of his life. This found it's formal expression in the foundation of AMSAT-DL eV; and from the first hour Werner, shaped the development of AMSAT-DL serving as Vice President. In spite of all the administrative duties which Werner accepted for AMSAT-DL, his true heart remained with radio technology. In particular, Werner was fascinated by satellite transponders and Werner built the transponders for all five satellites in which AMSAT-DL had a leading role. These central parts of the satellites were the major factors in the success of those AMSAT missions. Werner was always ready to pass on his enthusiasm and his technical know-how, so it comes as no surprise that Werner was not only admired, but that he also made many close friends all over the world. As a side effect, the flying satellite became a monument for Werner, which will constitute a yardstick for technical excellence for decades. During his last ten years, Werner's main interest was to ensure the success of the Phase 3-D satellite. For him, P3-D was the crowning achievement of his life's work. Even when he was already marked by his sickness, Werner took it upon himself to personally travel to Orlando to perform the last acceptance tests of P3-D. This gave him the assurance that he had given all in his power to make P3-D successful. Unfortunately, Werner did not live long enough to see the launch of P3-D this Autumn. AMSAT and Amateur Radio are poorer for this loss, but Werner will live on through his work and thus set an example for future generations: the world can be made a little better in the context of Amateur Radio by personal engagement and a sense of duty. We thank him for this. Werner will continue to be with us by his achievements and in our hearts. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC Peter Gulzow, DB2OS Keith Baker, KB1SF [Info via the AMSAT-NA News Service] * OSCAR-36 NEWS * ================= Chris Jackson reports that OSCAR-36 (UoSAT-12) is going through a period of maximum eclipses, and therefore minimum power. Chris has implemented an algorithm to point the satellite at the sun during parts of the orbit that it would otherwise not get any power, and this is helping to a certain extent. However, if the satellite is in eclipse, then it is possible (probable) that there may not be enough power at the moment to operate the transponder. The lowest power point occurred this past weekend. Solar illumination conditions for OSCAR-36 are predicted to be as follows: KD2BD's Solar Illumination Calendar For OSCAR-36 Date Mins/Day Sun% Date Mins/Day Sun% ----------------------------------------------------------------- Tue 20Jun00 924 64.17% Sat 08Jul00 971 67.43% Wed 21Jun00 915 63.54% Sun 09Jul00 967 67.15% Thu 22Jun00 926 64.31% Mon 10Jul00 976 67.78% Fri 23Jun00 932 64.72% Tue 11Jul00 1007 69.93% Sat 24Jun00 910 63.19% Wed 12Jul00 986 68.47% Sun 25Jun00 910 63.19% Thu 13Jul00 989 68.68% Mon 26Jun00 931 64.65% Fri 14Jul00 1005 69.79% Tue 27Jun00 924 64.17% Sat 15Jul00 1009 70.07% Wed 28Jun00 911 63.26% Sun 16Jul00 992 68.89% Thu 29Jun00 917 63.68% Mon 17Jul00 989 68.68% Fri 30Jun00 943 65.49% Tue 18Jul00 1011 70.21% Sat 01Jul00 926 64.31% Wed 19Jul00 986 68.47% Sun 02Jul00 924 64.17% Thu 20Jul00 977 67.85% Mon 03Jul00 940 65.28% Fri 21Jul00 977 67.85% Tue 04Jul00 957 66.46% Sat 22Jul00 985 68.40% Wed 05Jul00 940 65.28% Sun 23Jul00 956 66.39% Thu 06Jul00 946 65.69% Mon 24Jul00 948 65.83% Fri 07Jul00 973 67.57% Tue 25Jul00 963 66.88% On Friday morning, everything shut down due to extremely low power. During these periods, there are no guarantees that the satellite will properly function. Even when the satellite is not in eclipse, it may not have sufficient power to operate even its basic systems, let alone additional downlink time. The downlink on UO-36 is 10 watts, and the satellite is right on the edge of available power. Controllers are doing everything they can, but the basic fact is that OSCAR-36's orbit is not very friendly, and provides a variable power budget of between 50 and 150 watts. The minimum systems on UO-36 consume about 50W, so during minimum power seasons (such as now), the satellite is basically running slightly on the negative side with the power budget. * 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/ MAIL: John A. Magliacane, KD2BD Department of Engineering and Technology Brookdale Community College 765 Newman Springs Road Lincroft, New Jersey 07738 U.S.A. PACKET: KD2BD @ N2TDU.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