SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-133.01 PHASE 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-133.01 AO-40 experimental transponder operation started on Saturday morning, May 5th, when the U-band and L1-band uplinks were connected to the S-2 transmitter passband downlink via the Matrix switch. Operation has been extremely successful with many repots of AO-40 operation received by ANS. ANS has also received the following from AMSAT-DL: Dear All, After a very successful week of S-band transponder operation, the announced test of the 10 GHz X-band downlink was not successful. Michael Fletcher, OH2AUE, along with command station W4SM tested the X-band (both the solid state and TWT) systems, and, unfortunately, the test was not successful. The IHU-1 telemetry indicated the proper commands were received, but no power is getting to any of the X-band modules. Nothing happened and even the status of the temperature sensors in the X-band modules did not change. The values did not change when the module was commanded on, thus the conclusion that there is no electrical power within the module. The problem must be either in the 28-volt supply or in the module power control line from the IHU. This problem was never observed during all the testing in Orlando and Kourou. A software problem is very unlikely. It is planned to investigate this further in the next few days and another X-band attempt will be made soon. S-band transponder operation will continue. The LEILA system on AO-40 has been turned on for the first time! Recently, some very strong signals appeared in the passband, several dB louder than the middle beacon. At this time the AGC on the U-band receiver was suppressing up to 16 dB, clearly in sync with the strong transmissions. LEILA was switched into the U-band passband, (as seen by the MATRIX configuration). LEILA was configured for a SCAN/JAM/NOTCH mode and it worked like a charm! The threshold was set to a level which is approximately equal to the general beacon signal, which means any stronger signal will be detected by LEILA and a 'police siren' sound will first be heard to give the offending station a chance to reduce power, otherwise the notch will do it's best. Initial reports are that users in the passband loved it! This is the first time that such a system has been used in space for a transponder with uncoordinated multiple access. Meanwhile, the RUDAK team has reported good progress with both CPU's running for more than 10 days. Jim, WD0E, finished loading the GPS task into RUDAK-A and also loaded the CEDEX task. Both tasks are running but commands to begin their operations have not yet been transmitted. Jim also reported that RUDAK-A telemetry continues to look normal and the SmartNode temperature sensors on the CAN bus seem to work fine. 73, Peter, DB2OS, for the whole AO-40 team (end) AO-40 users are reminded that +/- 5 kHz around the Middle Beacon (MB) must be avoided. If the beacon cannot be copied due to interference with users in the passband, transponder operation may be stopped. ANS Principle Satellite Investigator Mike, N1JEZ reported that he has been testing uplink conditions with AO-40 as he watched the AGC action on the passband. His recommendations have been posted on the AMSAT bulletin board. Mike reports that he "can't wait until AO-40 is stabilized and pointing right at us! I see great DXpedition potential for a small U/S system!" Stay tuned to ANS, the official source for news and information about AMSAT OSCAR 40. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL and the ARRL for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-133.02 LEAGUE ASKING FOR PRIMARY ALLOCATION AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-133.02 The ARRL is reporting that it has again asked the FCC to create a primary, domestic Amateur Radio allocation at 2300-2305 MHz. ANS notes that Amateurs now are secondary here. The League first asked the FCC in 1996 to upgrade the allocation to primary, but the Commission has never acted on the request. ''The segment 2300-2305 MHz is of extreme importance to the Amateur Service, especially for weak-signal communications and propagation research, including beacon operation, due to the low noise levels in that band,'' the ARRL said. The renewed petition was prompted by increasing demands on that portion of the spectrum due to development of new telecommunications technologies. The Amateur Service has primary allocations in this part of the spectrum at 2390-2400 MHz and 2402-2417 MHz. The ARRL last year also sought to have the segment 2400-2402 MHz elevated from secondary to primary. AO-40 has been successfully using this part of the band for downlink telemetry and transponder operation. Amateurs ''need and should be afforded protection from'' commercial users between 2300-2305 MHz, the ARRL concluded. It also requested the FCC to not introduce any other users to the band ''in view of the necessity to protect the expanding amateur uses in the band which involve sensitive receivers.'' [ANS thanks the ARRL for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-133.03 AMSAT AT DAYTON! AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 200 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-133.03 As ANS reported in last week's bulletins, the Dayton Hamvention is quickly approaching. In addition to information noted last week, ANS has the following data: AMSAT-NA Vice-President of Field Operations, Barry Baines, WD4ASW, is requesting additional volunteers to serve for a 'tour of duty' at the AMSAT booth during a portion of the Hamvention. Volunteers will help handle the myriad of activities that typically occur at an AMSAT booth, handle transactions, deal with memberships and renewals, answer questions and serve as a representative of AMSAT. Prior experience in representing AMSAT at (any) hamfests is helpful but certainly not required. If you are attending Dayton and have not contacted Barry to tell him you can help, please do so immediately. Barry can be reached at: wd4asw@amsat.org. AMSAT will also offer S-band equipment. To assist AMSAT with raising funds, SSB Electronics USA has graciously agreed to contribute a portion of the unit price to AMSAT for each UEK-3000S mast-mounted S-band downconverter that is sold at the AMSAT booth. AMSAT will also have available the Phillips-Tech SPG-24 'barbecue grill' style 2.4 GHz antennas at Hamvention. These units have been very popular with AO-40 users. A specification sheet will be available at the AMSAT booth. The UEK-3000S in combination with the SPG-24 will provide an outstanding combination for S-Band operations. See you at Dayton! [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA Vice-President of Field Operations, Barry Baines, WD4ASW, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-133.04 ANS IN BRIEF AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-133.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** 'Fred' has no arms or legs. But his job is keeping astronauts safe. Fred is the 'Phantom Torso', an approximately 95-pound mockup of the human upper body. Beneath Fred's artificial skin are real bones and Fred's organs -- the heart, brain, thyroid, colon etc. - made of a special plastic that matches as closely as possible the density of human tissue. -SpaceDaily ** The world's first auroral contact on 23-cm took place recently between SM3AKW and SM5QA. Both stations report the signals sounded much like auroral signals on the lower bands. Both stations transmitted on 1296 MHz, with each station running about 500-watts to high-gain antennas. -Jeramy, G4NJH ** The International Space Station's Expedition-2 crew has turned its attention to the initial checkout of the new robotic arm now that the outpost's command and control computers are working properly. Engineers on the ground worked around the clock to restore full capability of the station's control computers since their mass storage devices exhibited failures in two of the three units during Endeavour's visit to the ISS last month. Science activities continue onboard, scheduled during and around the robotics work and maintenance tasks. Many Amateur Radio ground stations report ham activity from ISS this past week! Those working Alpha on 2-meter FM voice include Bill, VE7WFG, Arthur, N1ORC, Dave, N6CO, Bruce, K3LTM, Ray, W7GLF, Rick, K8RMR, Rose, KD7IOB, and Wade, K5WPN. -NASA/ANS ** Space tourist Dennis Tito landed back on Earth when the Soyuz TM-31 vessel carrying him and two Russian cosmonauts touched down in the desert of Kazakhstan. The touchdown occurred just six minutes ahead of schedule and went without hitches, ending Tito's historic eight-day holiday in space. Tito expressed hope that his pioneering holiday on the International Space Station would blaze a trail for other would-be space-trippers. -SpaceDaily ** Russ, K5NRK, reports the May/June issue of the AMSAT-NA Journal will feature several articles including: 'Special Event Station N4ISS' (by KD4SFF); 'Project Duckling' (uses for dead Drake downconverter by Alan, GM1SXX); 'Kenwood TS-2000: A Satellite Operator's Perspective' (by Jerry, K5OE); 'ATOS-The Phase 3D Orbital Path Propulsion Regulating System' (by Ernst, DG2KM); 'CEASAR-1' (by Jorg, DH3NBC); 'Time Acquisition/Control Software' (by Arch, KT4AT); 'AMSAT-India News' (by Nagesh, VU2NUD); 'AMSAT-DC Meeting News' (by Pat, N8PK) and 'AMSAT Field Day Rules' (by Andy, W5ACM). These are all in addition to regularly occurring articles and information. Membership in AMSAT-NA includes the AMSAT Journal. -ANS ** The upcoming ARRL South West Division Convention in Riverside, California will feature Dr. Paul Shuch, N6TX, (of the SETI League) as the featured event banquet speaker. Forums will include such notables as Gordon West, WB6NOA, Chip Margelli, K7JA, and Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF. -AR Newsline ** The ARRL once more has recommended that the FCC take a "reasonably conservative" approach in its plans to deploy ultra-wide band (UWB) devices on an unlicensed basis under its Part 15 rules. The ARRL's latest comments came in response to a FCC request for comments addressing UWB's interference potential. -ARRL Letter ** In what reads like a story from a 1950s science fiction magazine, a team of University of Florida scientists have genetically modified a tiny plant to send reports back from Mars in a most unworldly way: by emitting an eerie, fluorescent glow. -SpaceDaily --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-133.04 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-133.04 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. The RUDAK system has been activated. The RUDAK-A processor is sending telemetry and a pass-through of the IHU downlink information on its own downlink at 2401.72 MHz. AO-40 experimental transponder operation started on May 05, 2001 at approximately 08:00 UTC when the U-band and L1-band uplinks were connected to the S-2 transmitter passband downlink via the Matrix switch. This is experimental transponder operation and as such the transponders may be shut off at any time without warning and the schedule may change without prior notice. Note: +/- 5 kHz around the Middle Beacon (MB) must be avoided. If the beacon cannot be copied due to interference with users in the passband, the passband may be disconnected and transponder operation stopped. It is also planned to test the U-band and V-band transmitters again when squint angles allow good visibility. The uplink frequencies are 435.550-435.800 MHz and 1269.250 to 1269.500 MHz. The downlink passband is 2401.225-2401.475 MHz. The transponders are inverting, so a downward change in uplink frequency will result in an upward frequency shift in the downlink. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL and the ARRL 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 NOCALL ARISS initial station launched September 2000 aboard shuttle Atlantis. ARISS is made up of delegates from major national Amateur Radio organizations, including AMSAT. Status: Operational. Voice contacts with ISS have been made recently. The ISS packet station is available for UI packets (APRS or UI QSL). The mailbox and keyboard are currently disabled. Please see the packet section of the ARISS web page before attempting to first work ISS on packet. U.S. callsign: NA1SS Russian callsigns: RS0ISS, RZ3DZR The QSL routes for W/VE stations working NA1SS aboard the International Space Station: U.S. stations: Margie Bourgoin KB1DCO Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2) QSL ARRL, 225 Main Street Newington, Connecticut 06111 Canadian stations: Radio Amateurs of Canada Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2) QSL 720 Belfast Road, Suite 217 Ottawa, Ontario K1G 0Z5 A self-addressed, stamped envelope is required to get a QSL in return. The ARISS international group has not yet finalized a QSL card design. It will be a few months before cards become available. 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 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 RS-12 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. DX continues to be heard and worked on AO-10. Several stations report working 3B6RF via AO-10 including Masa, JN1GKZ, and Hardy, DC8TS. 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. TEPR states on AO-27 were reset on March 24, 2001 as follows: TEPR 4 is 38 / TEPR 5 is 78 (TEPR 5 is now 20 minutes long) 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, features UO-14 information on the Michigan AMSAT web site -- 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 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 July 2, 2001 - mode JA 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-133.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-133.05 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 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, last reported KO-25 to be operational with low traffic and low downlink efficiency. 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, last reported UO-22 to be operational with heavy individual and Sat-gate traffic. Downlink efficiency is in the 80% range. 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 information and Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for 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 Clive Wallis, G3CWV, reports that he has updated his processing software for OSCAR-11, correcting a Y2K problem with Keplerian elements. The updated packages can now be downloaded from his web site. Ground control operations have now corrected the dates in ASCII status blocks, reset the magnetorquer counters and started a new WOD survey. However, users should also note that there is still a 3-day error in the hardware generated ASCII telemetry date. The time in the ASCII telemetry continues to advance and the error is now about 18 minutes. Unfortunately these errors cannot be corrected. During the period 14-March to 17-April, 2001 reliable signals have been received from the 145 MHz beacon. Battery voltage observed during daylight passes has continued to decrease. The average value observed was 13.6 with a range of 13.2 to 13.9 volts. Internal temperatures have continued to decrease by one degree. They are now 2.0C and 0.4C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. Magnetometer calibrations have steadily changed during many years in orbit. Although the changes are small and are not noticeable on a plot of individual channels, they do have a considerable effect when the total magnetic field is calculated. The spin period has varied between 207 and 339 seconds. Ground control has now reset the magnetorquer counters. 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] 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. At last report telemetry was as follows: uptime is 18:06:50. Time is Sat May 05 21:43:54 2001 +10V Bus 9.900 V PSK TX RF Out 0.816 W +X (RX) Temp -11.499 D RX Temp 1.209 D Bat 1 V 1.225 V Bat 2 V 1.126 V Bat 3 V 1.208 V Bat 4 V 1.244 V Bat 5 V 1.114 V Bat 6 V 1.226 V Bat 7 V 1.195 V Bat 8 V 1.242 V Baseplt Temp 2.419 D RC PSK BP Temp -5.448 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -5.448 D +Y Array Temp -24.811 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -1.817 D +Z Array Temp -16.339 D Total Array C= 0.057 Bat Ch Cur=-0.113 Ifb= 0.008 I+10V= 0.128 TX:1006 BCR:7C PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:4A 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] 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-133.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 133.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 13, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-133.06 THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: 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, reported recently to ANS that TO-31 has been non-operational over North America for the past six months. 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] 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: Beacon only. 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 Time is Fri Apr 20 20:59:04 2001 LUSAT HIHI 60 AUN ADT AVB ADV AUB A66 A6U AE6Sat 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] 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 over 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 over 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, reported 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 was underway. [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 frequency (listed on the PanSat web site) 436.500 MHz Launched: October 30, 1998 by the Shuttle Discovery Status: Unknown The satellite is not available for general uplink transmissions. The Naval Postgraduate School developed PanSat. 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] 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