SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-196.01 AO-40 UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 196.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 15, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-196.01 AO-40 command station W4SM recently answered many questions in an attempt to clear up any misconceptions concerning AO-40 operations in recent weeks - centered around the ATOS system and the Arcjet cold firing. ANS has summarized this information: * The old orbit was stable before any recent interaction, however, perigee was very close (in some simulations as close as 160 km). There was considerable drag at perigee, which continuously changed the mean motion and probably contributed to the perturbation in ALON (the mystery effect). Orbital tracking elements had to be frequently updated. The rapidity of the perigee flyby also made magnetorquing very tricky. To improve these things command stations attempted to raise the perigee height with the decision to cold fire the Arcjet. * The command software controlling the Arcjet was not faulty and there is not any telemetry evidence to suggest any software error problems. * The entire amount of ammonia aboard the satellite has been used and it appears the TMFC (thermal mass flow controller) failed, passing far more gas than it should have. As this was happening there was no indication of this in the received telemetry. It is quite possible that there was a slow leak in the ammonia tanks and if (in fact) there was a slow leak - it is very fortunate we did not wait any longer to use the remaining fuel. In addition, there is no evidence that the ammonia problem was due to a command error. * The Command Team is now looking at what is next for AO-40. The momentum wheels have not yet been tested and the decision to deploy (or not deploy) the solar panels is under investigation. The primary goal remains to get AO-40 back into an orientation where the transponders can be operational and RUDAK testing can be completed. * AO-40 is in a stable orbit for much more than the next 20 years as perigee is oscillating in a safe range between 810 and 1260 km. * The Aux Battery is a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery. It is currently off of trickle charge. These cells are quite happy fully discharged and we believe that the battery will last longer if we do not keep it on trickle charge (as we have no immediate need for it, we have left it uncharged for now to prolong its life). AO-40 is currently at approximately ALON/ALAT 311/5, accounting for the much-improved telemetry signals on the first portion of the orbit. We are torquing to approximately 320/0 (at which point the solar angle will be close to 45 degrees) and the solar sensor may stop triggering, thereby stopping the process. If this does occur, it is a benign condition because the Sun is moving away from us at almost 1 deg/day and very quickly the solar angle will be re-established. However, we will have to wait until the end of August to be able to move all the way back to 0/0. In the mean time, when we reach ~320/0 we will stop magnetorquing and take pictures to verify our position. Remember that there are still a number of items to check out. In particular, we may have some days of limited or no transponder activity, and even no beacon activity, while the RUDAK team uploads software and checks out some of the RUDAK functions. The AMSAT-DL web site is currently featuring an AO-40 status summary format at: http://www.amsat-dl.org/journal/adlj-p3d.htm Stay tuned to ANS, the official source of AO-40 information. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-196.02 AMSAT-UK COLLOQUIUM AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 196.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 15, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-196.02 The 16th AMSAT-UK Colloquium will be held at Surrey University, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom, July 27 - 29, 2001. In addition to the standard program, additional attractions include a satellite beginners session on Friday afternoon and tours of the Surrey University satellite facilities. Microwave equipment testing, including 2.4GHz antenna gain testing, will be available. Also, the competition for a new logo for the AMSAT OSCAR 40 satellite will take place at the Colloquium, with winners to be announced. Full details of the event are at: http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium.htm The provisional program is on the AMSAT-UK web site, check out: http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium/program.htm [ANS thanks Richard Limebear, G3RWL, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-196.03 STS-104 MISSION UNDERWAY AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 196.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 15, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-196.03 The Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off on time last week, and, after a smooth climb to orbit, was quickly enroute to deliver a new doorway to space to the International Space Station. Atlantis Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Charlie Hobaugh and Mission Specialists Janet Kavandi, Jim Reilly and Mike Gernhardt will install an airlock named Quest on the station, increasing the orbiting complex's onboard capabilities for maintenance and construction and completing a major milestone in the station's orbital construction. The new airlock will enable station crews to perform space walks in U.S. space suits without the shuttle being present. This ability will enhance the station's capabilities for maintenance and construction and complete a major milestone in the station's orbital construction. Commander Lindsey smoothly docked the space shuttle with the International Space Station late Friday about 240 statute miles above the northeastern coast of South America. With both spacecraft moving at about 17,500 mph, Lindsay moved Atlantis to the station at a relative speed of about a tenth-of-a-foot per-second. The five-member crew of Atlantis spent their fifth day in space working with the Expedition-2 crew aboard the International Space Station to continue the activation of the station's new airlock, including; * testing nitrogen and oxygen lines that will be used during future shuttle missions to replenish the airlock's tanks of high-pressure oxygen and nitrogen; * testing the airlock's space walk equipment; * installing valves that will connect Quest to the station's environmental control system. In addition to checking and activating Quest's systems, the crews removed the motor controllers from the airlock's berthing mechanism, which are no longer needed now that the airlock is firmly attached to the station. After the airlock was attached to the station early Sunday morning, and the first part of its checkout was completed, the shuttle and station crews held a ribbon cutting for the new addition. STS-104 Commander Lindsey and Pilot Charlie Hobaugh fired the shuttle's engines for an hour Sunday night to boost the station to an altitude of 238 by 235 statute miles (383 by 375 kilometers). Mission Specialists Michael Gernhardt, Janet Kavandi and Jim Reilly also worked on equipment and supply transfers between the shuttle and station. The ARISS team reminds all that the ISS crews will be very busy during the STS-104 mission (so voice operations may change tempo). In addition, the Amateur Radio gear may need to be turned off for extended periods for the safety of the ISS, shuttle, and their crews. [ANS thanks NASA and ARISS for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-196.04 ANS IN BRIEF AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 196.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 15, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-196.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** As part of its escalated campaign to curb satellite signal piracy, DirecTV, Inc. recently executed civil seizure and impoundment orders against several businesses and individuals across the United States, and seized several truckloads of equipment used to illegally reprogram DirecTV access cards and steal DirecTV programming signals. -SpaceDaily ** Several AMSAT-NA officers are working on a new AMSAT-NA Skills Survey - intended to be distributed and collected primarily by e-mail and printed form. The idea is to identify (new) potential volunteers. More information as it becomes available. -ANS ** Venus is key to understanding what the early Earth was like during the early Proterozoic period when precious resources were formed. While modern Venus is in a quiet state most of the time, is does enter into short periods of intense volcanic activity where the old surface of Venus is destroyed and a new one is created. In its early history when life evolved, Earth worked in a similar way to modern Venus. -SpaceDaily ** Patrick Clark, KC8BFD, a 17-year-old from Elkview, West Virginia who is heavily involved in public service, emergency Communications and youth recruitment of new radio amateurs, has been named the 2001 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year. The award is jointly sponsored by Newsline, Vertex Standard USA, Inc. and CQ Magazine. Congratulations KC8BFD! -ANS, NewsLine ** The first Rocketdyne RS-68 flight engine has completed its flight acceptance hot-fire test series at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The engine was developed by the Rocketdyne Propulsion and Power business of Boeing for the first-stage booster of the Boeing Delta IV family of launch vehicles. -SpaceDaily ** Andy, W5ACM, reports that 73 Magazine will do another special satellite issue in November. Andy would like to know if anyone would like to participate! Material submission is easy, mostly e-mail. Contact Andy for more information at: Andrew.MacAllister@daniel.com. -Andy, W5ACM --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-196.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 196.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 15, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-196.05 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. The RUDAK system has been activated. 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. Transponder operation is currently suspended. G6LVB has described how to use an offset-dish for S-downlink at: www.g6lvb.com/60cm.htm Three programs to convert RUDAK WOD (whole orbit data) are available at: www.amsat.org/amsat/ftpdelta.html [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. The ISS daily crew schedule (which gives an idea when crew members have free time and may be available for Amateur Radio operations) can be found at: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines/2001/may/index.html 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 European stations: AMSAT-France 16, rue de la Vallee 91360 Epinay sur Orge, France 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 Jerry, K5OE, reports working several stations on RS-12 recently on mode-A and did not hear any signal distortion from the satellite downlink. 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. 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 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 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) [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 controller 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 Last reported, the JARL FO-29 command station announced the operation schedule of FO-29 through October 2001 - is 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-196.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 196.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 15, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-196.06 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 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 KO-25 returned to service on July 12th. Downlink efficiency is in the 50% range. Traffic is moderate to heavy. The KO-25 command team had reported the on-board computer (OBC) of KO-25 crashed on June 19, 2001. The team was successful in uploading new software under the direction of HL0ENJ. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for this 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 good downlink efficiency and heavy traffic, both individual and SatGate. Many international gateways are represented on the satellite. 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, G3CWV, reported to ANS that it has been an uneventful time for OSCAR-11 during the period of May 15-June 9, 2001. Battery voltage observed during daylight passes has continued to decrease. The average value observed was 13.3 volts with a range of 13.1 to 13.5 volts. The internal temperatures have continued to decrease, now -0.2 and -1.6 Celsius for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. The magnetometer calibrations have steadily changed during the 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 also varied, now between 300 and 344 seconds, with the attitude control working normally. The mode-S beacon is active, transmitting an unmodulated carrier. This beacon is a useful test source for those testing mode-S converters for AO-40. Users of OSCAR-11 should note that the hardware generated time in the ASCII telemetry is now 15.5 minutes ahead of UTC, and the date is three days advanced. Unfortunately these errors cannot be corrected. 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. Telemetry is as follows: uptime is 516/18:31:47. Time is Fri Jul 13 22:08:51 2001 +X (RX) Temp -12.104 D RX Temp 0.603 D Bat 1 V 1.225 V Bat 2 V 1.117 V Bat 3 V 1.145 V Bat 4 V 1.208 V Bat 5 V 1.110 V Bat 6 V 1.199 V Bat 7 V 1.117 V Bat 8 V 1.169 V Bat 1 Temp 1.814 D Bat 2 Temp 1.814 D Baseplt Temp 1.814 D PSK TX RF Out 0.698 W RC PSK BP Temp -6.658 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -6.658 D +Y Array Temp -22.995 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -3.027 D +Z Array Temp -16.339 D Total Array C= 0.038 Bat Ch Cur=-0.100 Ifb= 0.049 I+10V= 0.072 TX:1006 BCR:7A PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:F3 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-196.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 197.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 15, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-196.07 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. 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 is as follows: Time is Fri Jul 13 21:53:51 2001 CW-Code: avt aba av6 abn au6 a6v ttu aee 5V-reg.: 4.89 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V 10V-Bat: 10.94 V 10V-Curr: 114.1 mA TX-Pwr : 0.899 W TX-Temp.: -0.46 ?C +Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 3.56 ?C CW-Code: avt aba av6 abn aub a6u ttu aee 5V-reg.: 4.89 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V 10V-Bat: 10.94 V 10V-Curr: 113.4 mA TX-Pwr : 0.899 W TX-Temp.: -0.46 ?C +Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 3.20 ?C General information and decode values of CW telemetry can find it in: www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu/lo19 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 for almost 8 months. ANS has received no additional information. When/if operational, 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 8 months. ANS has received no additional information. When/if operational, 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