SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.01 PHASE 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 063.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-056.01 The month of March begins with good news about AMSAT OSCAR 40. The ARRL is reporting the following in the current ARRL Letter: The sun began triggering AO-40's sun sensor as the satellite emerged from Earth's shadow on orbit 147. The news has boosted ground controllers' optimism that they might be able to regain control over the satellite's spin rate and attitude sooner than had been predicted. AMSAT-DL's Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, said this past week that as soon as the sensor unit delivers good sensor data, controllers will be able to reduce AO-40's spin and make it easier to adjust attitude. "This also will lead to an improvement in reception of the S-Band telemetry," he said. For the past few weeks, AO-40 has remained in a semi-hibernation state, because the satellite's high angle has prevented the sensor from seeing sunlight. Controllers had planned to work around the sensor issue by using a software routine. Once ground controllers can get accurate AO-40 attitude data, they should be able to correctly aim AO-40's high-gain antennas for optimal reception on Earth. Ground controllers have been relying on telemetry from AO-40's S-band downlink -- but they are holding out hope that at least some of the satellite's other transmitters will still function. The next major step will be to bring AO-40 into an orientation where ground controllers can fire the onboard arc-jet thruster -- using only gaseous ammonia and no electrical power. The test firing will allow checking out the guidance electronics and the arc-jet valves. Guelzow said plans call for optimizing the current orbit with a live arc-jet firing. He said that several independent analyses - including one done by the French space agency, CNES -- confirm that the current orbit will be stable for many years, longer than the spacecraft's anticipated lifetime. (end) The AMSAT-DL web site is reporting the following: Determination of AO-40's actual attitude is under progress. The YACE camera and IHU-2 have been turned on by ground controllers in order to receive additional attitude information when AO-40 is close to Earth (at perigee). The first highly compressed images showing parts of the Earth's surface have already been downloaded as this edition of ANS is broadcast. <<...OLE_Obj...>> AO-40's orbital parameters (number 44) are as follows: Satellite: AO-40 Catalog number: 26609 Epoch time: 01060.32118714 Inclination: 5.5180 deg RA of node: 218.3353 deg Eccentricity: 0.8134782 Arg of perigee: 228.5693 deg Mean anomaly: 26.7905 deg Mean motion: 1.26955381 rev/day Decay rate: 9.0e-08 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 153 Checksum: 280 When last listed, AO-40 ALON/ALAT was 226/-7. Moe Wheatley, AE4JY, has released Version 1.0 of AO40Rcv. More information is available at: www.qsl.net/ae4jy/ao40rcv.htm Stay tuned to AMSAT News Service, the official source of AO-40 news and information. [ANS thanks AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-NA and the ARRL for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.02 AMSAT-NA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 063.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-056.02 The Board of Directors of AMSAT-NA met February 24-25, 2001in Orlando, Florida - to consider a number of items, specifically the format and nature of the next AMSAT satellite project(s). During the meeting it was recognized that it will be some time before a full evaluation of AO-40 will be completed and that all of the designed functions of that satellite may not be available. It was also recognized that it takes several years from initial concept to launch for any new satellite project, and that the year 2001 is the right time to start the planning and design process for the next series of satellites. Present during these discussions were several members of the AMSAT-NA project committee, who made proposals to the Directors for their consideration. These proposals were made based on two guiding principles: 1) the input from AMSAT membership about the type of spacecraft, frequencies and operating requirements; 2) the desire of the AMSAT technical membership to keep advancing the state-of-the-art and providing new solutions for improving satellite communications. Accordingly, the Board of Directors approved the following three projects. First, a new satellite to be placed into a geostationary transfer orbit. The proposed satellite project would feature communications at 2-meters, 70-centimeters, 1.2, 2.4 and 5.4 GHz, with actual uplink/downlink frequencies to be determined. The satellite would weigh a maximum of 100 Kg in mass and would have a power consumption of about 100 watts. Stabilization would be provided by spinning the spacecraft. Secondly, the Directors approved the idea of designing, building and testing a new Internal Housekeeping Unit (IHU) for use in future AMSAT satellites. The existing design, although very stable, uses components which are very hard to find. A new unit design would use improved techniques and more readily available components. Thirdly, the Board approved design, construction and demonstration of a new mode using digital modulation techniques. This would improve communications under very poor conditions or, alternatively, permit the use of lower power and/or simple antennas. It is anticipated that both the second and third projects would be ready to be a part of the main satellite project, with both a digital modulation system along with traditional SSB/CW modulation techniques. The Board of Directors also approved (in principle) a draft report from the AMSAT strategy committee, with a full report to follow at a later date. Finally, discussion took place on a proposed new development program which will be initiated during 2001 and aimed toward the involvement of AMSAT corporate sponsors. Stay tuned to ANS for more information on these exciting projects! [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.03 A NEW CREW FOR SPACE STATION ALPHA AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 063.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-056.03 The ARRL is reporting that it's almost time for a crew change aboard ISS Alpha, and two hams are among the new crew members. Relieving the current ISS crew will be the Expedition-2 crew of Commander Yuri Usachev, UA9AD/R3MIR, and astronauts Susan Helms, KC7NHZ, and Jim Voss. The new crew is scheduled to head to the station on March 8th aboard space shuttle Discovery. The current Space Station Alpha Commander, astronaut William Shepherd, KD5GSL, recently completed another successful school contact, this time with the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Five high school students from Hawaii and one from American Samoa got a chance to talk with Shepard aboard Alpha. The six-minute contact took place March 1st as part of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program. [ANS thanks the ARRL and ARISS for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.04 ANS IN BRIEF AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 056.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-063.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** The JW9PJA DXpedition to Svalbard will take place March 9-12, 2001. Satellite contacts are planned as well as HF operation from 1.8 to 30 MHz. Operational callsigns will include JW9PJA, JW/LC3SAT and JW/LC5VAT. -Mike, N1JEZ ** The ARRL is urging the FCC to retain the 219-220 MHz shared Amateur Radio allocation and says it wants the Commission to make it a bit easier for hams to use the segment. In comments filed in early February with the FCC, the ARRL said it believes the 219-220 MHz band "must be maintained and enhanced." -ARRL Letter ** A leading Chinese rocket expert has proposed a new rocket launching center in southern China's coastal regions that would provide a better safety environment and higher carrying capability compared to existing Chinese sites. -SpaceDaily ** Russia has successfully launched a spacecraft carrying supplies for the International Space Station. Russian space officials say the Progress M-44 cargo ship blasted off recently from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It will deliver fuel, equipment, food and water to the station. -7am.com News ** Ernie Manly, W7LHL, and Larry Liljequist, W7SZ, successfully completed an EME contact recently while running only 5-watts on 1296 MHz. The antennas for the QRP contact consisted of 10 and 12-foot TVRO-type dishes. Details are available at the following URL: http://www.proaxis.com/~boblark/dsp10.htm. -ARRL Letter ** The Satellite Industry Association has released details from a seven-month study that shows record losses in revenue, jobs and market share for California-based manufacturers of commercial satellites during 2000. Stiffer U.S. export controls and increasing competition from foreign competitors were cited as the major factors contributing to the decline. -SpaceDaily ** NASA's Deep Space Network antennas have received their last data from the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft, still perched on a tiny asteroid some 200 million miles from Earth. The tiny craft - about the size of an automobile - became the first to land on an asteroid two weeks ago, despite having no landing gear. It had just finished a year-long orbit of the space rock Eros when it made its improbable touch down on the surface. -7am.com News --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 063.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-063.05 Phase 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 / AO-40 Launched: November 16, 2000 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: S-Band transmitter is active, recovery efforts continue. The V-band, U-band and the L-band (L1) receivers are working on the the high-gain antennas. The omni-directional antennas appear to be non-functional. The attitude control system is functional. [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-1 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 Russian callsign: R0ISS, RZ3DZR German call sign: DL0ISS 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-12 Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.408 MHz Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher Status: RS-12 was re-activated in mode A on January 1, 2001 Recently heard on RS-12: K5OE, KO4MA, W8JOM and K0RS. 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 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. 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 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] 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. [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: through April 2, 2001 - 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] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-063.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 063.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-063.06 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 at 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 UO-22 is operational with heavy individual and Sat-gate 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 During the period 16-January to 14-February 2001 good signals have been received from the 145 MHz beacon. The battery voltage observed during daylight passes is slightly lower. The average value observed was 13.9 with a range of 13.7 to 14.1 volts. The internal temperatures have slightly decreased. They are now 4.6C and 2.8C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. The WOD survey of channels 10, 20, 30, 40 (+Y, -X, +X, solar array currents, array voltage) - dated 06 January - has been transmitted. The array voltage shows the effect of the solar eclipses. The array voltage also shows the decrease of battery voltage during dark periods, the constant voltage during charge, and over-voltage when the battery is fully charged. The spin period has varied between 280 and 315 seconds. At the start of the reporting period the Z-axis magnetorquer counter reached 1,024. 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 437.126 MHz. No BBS service is available. The digipeater is not active. Telemetry (limited) is as follows: Sat Feb 17 at 22:05 2001 UTC LUSAT HIHI 60 AVT ABV AAB AB6 ATD ABT TTU AEE LUSAT HIHI 60 AVT ABV AAD AD6 ATN A6N TTU AEE LUSAT HIHI 60 AVT ABV AAN AD6 AAT A6N TTU AEE 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 the 70-cm transmitter is at about 2-watts output and WOD is being collected to watch the battery temps to see if they stabilize to previous levels. AO-16's S-band transmitter was powered off recently after 36 hours of operation. Whole orbit data is being analyzed for battery conditioning during S-band operation. AO-16 is moving into an orbit where solar illumination density begins to decrease and thus AO-16's power settings will change. WJ9F will try to operate the S-band transmitter during weekends until the power budget does not allow it. Telemetry is as follows: Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, reports recent telemetry is an example of a "dark orbit", as observed in the state of the batteries. uptime is 383/18:29:47. Time is Fri Mar 02 22:06:23 2001 +10V Bus 9.950 V PSK TX RF Out 1.465 W Bat 1 V 1.218 V Bat 2 V 1.117 V Bat 3 V 1.162 V Bat 4 V 1.221 V Bat 5 V 1.131 V Bat 6 V 1.172 V Bat 7 V 1.185 V Bat 8 V 1.223 V +5V Bus 4.687 V +8.5V Bus 7.672 V Bat 1 Temp 7.260 D Bat 2 Temp 6.049 D Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.410 Ifb= 0.161 I+10V= 0.267 TX:1009 BCR:1E PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:C6 Beacon text: Happy 11th birthday to AO-16, LO-19, UO-14. AO-16 owned and operated by AMSAT-NA AO-16 Command Team 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: Non-operational, no data downlinked since December 18, 2000. Jim, AA7KC, reports TO-31 non-operational over North America. Chris G7UPN, (UoSAT operations manager) reports the following to ANS: 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. 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: Semi-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-063.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 063.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 04, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-056.07 THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: SO-41 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: Unknown, this satellite has been in orbit for almost six months. ANS has received no additional information. 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. SO-42 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: Unknown, this satellite has been in orbit for almost six months. ANS has received no additional information. 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. 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: Non-operational The SunSat team released the following statement, dated February 1, 2001: We regret to announce that the last communication with SunSat from our ground station at the Electronic Systems Laboratory at Stellenbosch University took place recently. We are certain, after having performed several tests since the last contact, that an irreversible, physical failure has occurred on the satellite. It is therefore unlikely that we will have any further contact with SunSat, apart from the occasional visual sighting by telescope! When it was operational the SunSat package included 1200 and 9600 baud digital store-and-forward capability and a voice 'parrot' repeater system in addition to Mode B/J operation with two VHF and two UHF transmit-receive systems. For more information on SunSat visit the following URL: http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za [ANS thanks Garth Milne, ZR1AFH, 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: non-operational (last operational in mode-T) RS-12 was re-activated in January 2001. Prior to this switch RS-13 was operational (mode T), but was apparently turned off following the recent RS-12 switch. 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] 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. Jeff, KB2WQM, reported to ANS that he noticed KO-23 transmitting a solid carrier recently (no data), Mineo, JE9PEL, also reported receiving KO-23 carrier signals. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, for KO-23 status 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 are reporting the Mir space station will be ditched in a controlled descent that will send it hurtling into a remote area of the Pacific Ocean in March 2001. 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 has been in orbit for 11 years. 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