SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-313.01 AO-40 UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 313.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 09, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-313.01 Command station team member Stacey Mills, W4SM, reported the latest AO-40 information to ANS: Recently, a short program was uploaded to cycle the power on and off to the S-1 transmitter. The purpose of this test was to determine if the controller circuit to the transmitter (or the transmitter itself) had an intermittent problem relating to power up. The program turned the power on and off each second. When on, it checked to see if the S-1 transmitter was actually drawing any current. If so, the program would stop, leaving the S-1 transmitter on. The program ran for approximately 45 minutes (thus the power was cycled on and off approximately 1,350 times). During this time, the S-1 transmitter was never detected to be drawing current. Accordingly, control stations now assume that the S-1 transmitter cannot be recovered. Nonetheless, ground control stations will repeat this test from time to time on the remote chance that an intermittent problem may have corrected itself. This same test will also be performed on the solid state component of the X-band transmitter shortly. The V-band transmitter has also seen additional testing. The V-band transmitter draws power and warms up, but no output signal has been detected. Additional testing will be done, including listening with EME class stations. Though this may provide evidence for what's wrong with the V-band transmitter, however, ultimately it also appears lost. Currently, AO-40 is at an ALON/ALAT of 6/2 with station keeping underway. Orientation is against the mystery effect. Following this AO-40 will be moved back toward 0/0. Magnetorquing has been decreased from MA-224/32 to MA-240/16. W4SM also reports that control stations have encountered a problem with the middle beacon (and passband) not returning to the air after a RUDAK session. This was traced to problems with the S-2 transmitter AGC due to the schedule routine disconnecting RUDAK, followed by a brief delay with no input to S-2. The AGC could did follow this rapid fluctuation and would occasionally go into a low power mode requiring the transmitter to be recycled. The temporary solution to this was an intermediate schedule line which turned the middle beacon on for one MA before the RUDAK was disconnected. The schedule routine in the IHU has now been modified to correct this situation. Additional testing, including L-band uplink to S-2 downlink, U-band, K-band only downlink, S-band uplink, etc., are currently being planned for the future. Testing and development continues on the 3-axis control system, to account for significant changes in the final orbit, the mystery effect, and the loss of some sensors. Expect further feasibility testing and announcements on this shortly. AO-40 is approaching the end of a favorable solar angle, within one month we will have to either initiate 3-axis control or off-point AO-40 for several months until the solar angle improves. No shift to 3-axis control will be made without adequate testing of a mechanism to revert back to spin control. AO-40 is currently in a long period during which the Earth eclipses the Sun near perigee. These actually began about August 28th, and will rapidly increase in length. The will continue well into June 2002. For the current transponder operating schedule visit: http://www.amsat-dl.org/journal/adlj-p3d.htm AO-40 activity continues. Jeff, K7XQ, recently made his first AO-40 contacts, working JA5CU/1, JA6QT, JR1ASH, JA1UKI, BV2SR and JA8AXQ. Stay tuned to ANS, the official source of AO-40 information. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-313.02 PCSAT UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 313.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 09, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-313.02 Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, tells ANS that PCSat has completed its first month in space and is performing well in its planned mission of mobile position and status reporting. "We have seen over 140 users in the European footprint and a comparable number in the U.S., as well as stations in Australia," said WB4APR. PCSat is currently in its maximum eclipse phase and the 9600-baud UHF receivers are turned off. The GPS system also remains off except for a short period when in-orbit over the command station. WB4APR told ANS that users seem to be following the established guidelines, thus assuring that everyone gets a fair chance. Many mobile stations seem to access PCSat reliably. All of PCSat's hardware is working well except for the loss of the experimental Z solar array. The only un-exercised features are the LED communication experiment and the onboard synchronizer. Bob reports that as optical conditions improve control stations will try to flash the LED's for visual confirmation. For more information, visit the PCSat web site at: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pcsat.html [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-313.03 ISS UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 313.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 09, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-313.03 The Expedition-3 crew, Commander Frank Culbertson, Pilot Vladimir Dezhurov and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin, continue to make preparations for the third and final space walk of their mission (scheduled for November 12th). This is the fifth space walk to take place from the International Space Station (ISS). The Expedition-3 crew is scheduled to return to Earth in December on shuttle mission STS-108, which will launch their Expedition-4 replacements. The space shuttle Endeavour is targeted for lift off (STS-108) late this month. A firm launch date will be established following a Flight Readiness Review by shuttle and station managers. In addition to preparing spacesuits and equipment for their Monday spacewalk, the Expedition-3 crew has continued scientific investigations aboard the station this week. These investigations include measuring space radiation aboard ISS and growing crystals that may help researchers better design drugs to fight diseases such as diabetes. With systems operating normally, the station is orbiting the Earth at an average altitude of 247 statute miles, roughly every 90 minutes. [ANS thanks NASA for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-313.04 ANS IN BRIEF AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 313.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 09, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-313.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** K5OE reports the big DX news recently was Howard, 3A/G6LVB, operating portable from Monaco. A new country for many! -Jerry, K5OE ** Jupiter's moon Io has pulled a surprise on NASA's Galileo spacecraft, hurling up the tallest volcanic plume ever seen, which arose from a previously unknown volcano. A different volcano had been lofting a plume seven months earlier, but Galileo saw no sign of that plume during its latest Io flyby in early August. -SpaceDaily ** The 2001 AMSAT Field Day Competition results show ON5LL finishing in 6th place, NX2Q in 7th, VE3KRG in 8th, K6YK in 9th, K9KM in 10th and K2BMI finishing 11th. Congratulations all! -Andy, W5ACM ** Astronomers using the National Science Foundation's 12 Meter Telescope at Kitt Peak, Arizona, have discovered the complex organic molecule vinyl alcohol in an interstellar cloud of dust and gas near the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. The discovery of this long-sought compound could reveal tantalizing clues to the mysterious origin of complex organic molecules in space. -SpaceDaily ** 2001 AMSAT Symposium awards included a presentation to John Clowe, W4ZPG, in grateful appreciation for his work as Prize Chairman for the 2001 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium. His dedicated service and hard work in gathering prizes for this event was noted with thanks. -AMSAT-NA ** A collective sigh of relief could be heard at Cornell University's Space Sciences Building when the Mars Odyssey spacecraft went into orbit around Mars. The small robotic spacecraft will be the key link for the Mars Exploration Rover mission in 2003. By January, after several more dips into the atmosphere - scientists hope to have the Odyssey down to a tight orbit. -SpaceDaily/NASA ** In celebration of Veterans Day, many of the U.S. Naval museum ships were QRV from November 10-11, 2001. Dick Raitt, WA5VKS, operated from the radio room of the U.S.S. Stewart, a Destroyer Escort in dry dock at Pelican Island, Texas. WA5VKS was QRV on AO-27 and UO-14. -ANS ** Sharpening its focus on the next generation of human space flight, a new office at the Johnson Space Center will develop technologies to lead to the next reusable human spacecraft, work that could mean hundreds of millions of dollars of research efforts. JSC's new Space Launch Initiative Office will manage research and development of technologies unique to flying humans in space. -NASA ** The theme of the 2002 Dayton Hamvention will be emergency communications and preparedness. Hamvention draws upwards of 30,000. The Hamvention 2002 committee said it anticipates new Amateur Radio-related exhibitors as a result of the announced theme. -ARRL ** Global warming might be a popular worry but scientists on Antarctica's coast are recording some of the thickest sea ice ever seen, according to a recent article in the Antarctic Sun newspaper. -SpaceDaily ** Arizona Near Space Research says that it will launch a ham radio equipped balloon on December 1st, weather permitting. The group had first hoped to launch from a local hamfest but the location is in enhanced Class B airspace and currently off limits. Full information on the flight can be found at < www.qsl.net/wb7tjd >. -ARNewsline --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-313.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 313.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 09, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-313.05 Phase 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 / AO-40 Launched: November 16, 2000 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Currently, the U/L-1 to S-2 passband is active. Uplink U-band 435.550 - 435.800 MHz CW/SSB L1-band 1269.250 - 1269.500 MHz CW/SSB L2-band 1268.325 - 1268.575 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 2401.225 - 2401.475 MHz CW/SSB For the current transponder operating schedule visit: http://www.amsat-dl.org/journal/adlj-p3d.htm 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. [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. Students at Tremper High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin, asked questions recently of ISS Commander Frank Culbertson. The contact was an event facilitated through the ARISS project. Also, elementary school students from New York City had some very specific questions about current events for Commander Culbertson during a recent ISS contact. The children are students at P.S.-234, with its regular campus only two blocks from the World Trade Center site. The ISS packet station (normally) available for UI packets. 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 (a SASE is required to get a QSL in return): Margie Bourgoin, KC1DCO Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2, 3) QSL ARRL, 225 Main Street Newington, Connecticut 06111 Canadian stations: Radio Amateurs of Canada Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2, 3) QSL 720 Belfast Road, Suite 217 Ottawa, Ontario KEG 0Z5 European stations (a SASE and 2 IRC's are required to get a QSL in return. AMSAT-France 14 bis, rue des Gourlis 92500 Rueil Malmaison France [ANS thanks Will Marchant, KC6ROL, and Jean-Louis Rault, F6AGR, 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 W4NM reported good downlink signals from RS-12 recently. 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 with very good conditions recently. PE1RAH reports very good downlink signals, working several station including 7M4DUI, VU2MKP and 7K2GUR. K6CCC reports "the receiver seems to be hearing very well." M1BTR reports working 5B4AZ, G1WPR, VU2MKP, JN1GKZ, WA8YXG, W9DF, LU8MB, and others. G8ATE reports working VE2DIV, XE1MEX, K6RST, 2E1EUB and K5OE. 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, with recent updates by Ray, W2RS. 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 [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 Ray, W2RS, has revised the AO-27 FAQ on < www.amsat.org > to include information on UO-14. [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 December 3, 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-313.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 313.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 09, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-313.06 PCSat Uplink/downlink 145.825 MHz 1200 baud AX-25 AFSK via W3ADO-1 Uplink 435.250 MHz 9600 baud via W3ADO-2 APRS Downlink 144.390 MHz (Region 2) TNC callsign W3ADO-1/2 on 145.825 MHz PCSAT-11/12 on 144.390 MHz Launched: September 30, 2001 aboard an Athena-1 rocket from the Kodiak Alaska Launch Complex. Status: Operational PCSat has completed its first month in space and is performing well in its planned mission of mobile position and status reporting. The APRS-equipped PCSat was built by midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy under the guidance of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. PCSat is a 1200-baud APRS digipeater designed for use by stations using 1200-baud hand-held transceivers or 9600-baud mobiles. Downlinks feed a central web site < http://pcsat.aprs.org >. For more information, visit the PCSat web site at: http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/pcsat.html [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for PCSat information] 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. [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 is marginally operational with very low downlink efficiency - in the 3% range. The lack of traffic and low downlink efficiency indicates a problem. In addition, KO-25's downlink transmitter power output seems low or intermittent. [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 heavy individual and SatGate traffic. Downlink efficiency is in the 75% range. UoSAT command station G7UPN reports to ANS that UO-22 had been closed for amateur activity for a short duration while command stations assess the state of the RAM disk. Over the past few weeks there have been increasing difficulties downloading larger files from the spacecraft. The store and forward communications system has been reloaded. 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 During the period 15-September to 16-August, consistent signals have been received from the 145 MHz beacon. The internal temperatures have continued to increase as the solar eclipse times decrease. A further rise of 2.5 degree C has been noted. These temperatures are now 5.8C and 4.0C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. The battery voltage observed during daylight passes has increased. The average value observed was 14.05 with a range of 14.0 to 14.1 volts. The improved battery voltage is also a result of decreasing solar eclipse times, and this trend is expected to continue for several months. 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 3 days advanced. The operating schedule is unchanged. 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 628/19:07:57. Time is Fri Nov 02 22:45:01 2001 +X (RX) Temp -5.448 D RX Temp 10.285 D Bat 1 V 1.206 V Bat 2 V 1.192 V Bat 3 V 1.208 V Bat 4 V 1.214 V Bat 5 V 1.212 V Bat 6 V 1.205 V Bat 7 V 1.199 V Bat 8 V 1.242 V Bat 1 Temp 6.654 D Bat 2 Temp 6.654 D Baseplt Temp 6.049 D PSK TX RF Out 1.535 W +Y Array Temp -21.180 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 1.814 D +Z Array Temp -11.499 D Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.407 Ifb= 0.179 I+10V= 0.249 TX:1009 BCR:1E PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:A8 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] 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-313.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 313.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 09, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-313.07 THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: 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: Unknown UO-36 carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward communications and mode L/S transponders. Paul, KB2SHU, tells ANS that UO-36 has not been operational (over North America) since late July. In addition, Sangat, 9M2SS, reports he has not copied UO-36 since July 30th. 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 UO-36 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. 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 Sep 28 23:02:00 2001 CW-Code: avt abu aun adv aan a6b ttu aee 5V-reg.: 4.89 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V 10V-Bat: 11.01 V 10V-Curr: 116.9 mA TX-Pwr : 0.938 W TX-Temp.: 2.02 ?C +Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 6.05 ?C CW-Code: avt abu ava ada auu a66 tta aee 5V-reg.: 4.89 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V 10V-Bat: 11.01 V 10V-Curr: 116.2 mA TX-Pwr : 0.918 W TX-Temp.: 1.31 ?C +Z-Sol.: 0.15 V Box-Temp: 4.98 ?C CW-Code: avt aba av4 adt au4 a6e ttu aee 5V-reg.: 4.89 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V 10V-Bat: 10.94 V 10V-Curr: 115.5 mA TX-Pwr : 0.909 W TX-Temp.: 0.25 ?C +Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 4.27 ?C 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 to be available to Amateur Radio operators along with software to utilize this technology. 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