SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0717 * SpaceNews 17-Jul-00 * BID: $SPC0717 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY JULY 17, 2000 * ARIANE FLIGHT 130 LAUNCH DELAY * ================================== Arianespace has released a press statement announcing the launch postponement of Flight 130. The release states that until an upper stage anomaly (detected during endurance testing on Ariane-5 components) is resolved, Flight 130 and subsequent Ariane-5 launches are delayed. AMSAT-NA President Keith Baker, KB1SF, stated that it is unknown at this time how the delay may affect the upcoming launch of Phase 3D. KB1SF also reported that AMSAT-DL is exploring the delay on behalf of the Phase 3D team. The delay was mandated by an anomaly that was detected during a long duration ground test of the attitude control system used on the Ariane series upper stage. Additional checks could not confirm the flight readiness of the attitude control system hardware installed on the Flight 130 vehicle. In compliance with its policy to give absolute priority to quality and reliability, Arianespace will not authorize the launch of Flight 130 until all causes of the anomaly have been completely analyzed and corrective measures applied. AR-130 had been scheduled for launch near the end of July, using the Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher to orbit the Astra 2B and GE-7 satellites. [Info via the AMSAT-NA News Service] * SUNSAT NEWS * =============== Sunsat controllers reports that Sunsat will operate in Mode J during the coming weeks (with weekdays included). A schedule for all voice passes to the end of July was uploaded to the Sunsat web page: http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za The uplink is 145.825 MHz, downlink 436.250 MHz. The voice schedule for this weekend is included below. Except for when a voice pass is in progress, Sunsat will digipeat unconnected 1k2 AFSK (uplink 145.900 MHz) and 9k6 PAM/FSK (uplink 145.825 MHz) data to 9k6 PAM/AFSK (downlink 436.250 MHz). Use 'SUNSAT' in your unproto path. Japan: 15/07/2000 08:49 16/07/2000 09:48 Australasia: 15/07/2000 09:05 16/07/2000 08:25 South-Eastern Asia: 15/07/2000 12:16 16/07/2000 13:15 Southern Africa: 15/07/2000 15:47 16/07/2000 16:45 Europe: 15/07/2000 18:45 16/07/2000 18:05 South America: 15/07/2000 22:22 16/07/2000 21:42 North America: 16/07/2000 01:27 17/07/2000 00:47 [Info via Johann Lochner, ZR1CBC] * SPECIAL EVENT OPERATION * =========================== Mike Seguin, N1JEZ, has reported that he will be active during an upcoming DXpedition to St. Pierre & Miquelon Island. He will be operating from Ile aux Marins, a small island accessible by ferry from St. Pierre. The callsign will be TO0DX and the grid square is GN16. The expected operation will be July 15 through July 19, 2000. Mike was initially asked to join the HF DXpedition and agreed if he could also bring along a satellite station. Mike will be transporting a full OSCAR class station to the island including cross-polarized yagis, VHF/UHF transceiver, preamps, rotor, and so on. N1JEZ plans to operate both analog and digital satellite modes. In addition to the satellite gear, Mike will also be active on 6-meters while on the island. [Info via Arthur Rowe, N1ORC] * 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