SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-348.01 DECEMBER 2001 PRESIDENT'S LETTER AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 348.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 16, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-348.01 Several times each year ANS will feature information from AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH. This feature is known as the President's Letter. The following is the December 2001 installment: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 was a very special day for AMSAT members and for anyone with an interest in radio communications. Wednesday marked the 100th anniversary of the first transatlantic radio communication by Marconi, from England to Newfoundland. The event was a historic achievement in the annals of radio communications. An equally historic event took place 40 years ago, the launch of the first Amateur Radio satellite - OSCAR-1. From my archives I find that OSCAR-1 was a 10-pound package of electronics which transmitted the word "HI" back to Earth, along with telemetry in the form of a temperature measurement (which controlled the timing of the CW). The satellite was constructed by members of Project OSCAR, a group organized at Foothills College in Los Altos, California, along with the Lockheed Amateur Radio Club in Sunnyvale, California. I would like to pass my congratulations to all of the members of Project OSCAR (most of whom are still active in Amateur satellites). They were the forerunners of AMSAT and we have to thank them for their vision in developing this exciting aspect of Amateur Radio only four years after the flight of the first Sputnik. On December 12, 2001 yet another first took place, the introduction of a new website from the latest member of the AMSAT world community. AMSAT-India has announced that their web page would become available on that day, and I look forward to reading their information. As the senior officer of AMSAT-NA, I get a great deal of e-mail from many of you, and the variety of topics seem endless. I try to reply directly to as many as I can, providing some insight into AMSAT and what goes on in the organization. However, several of you have written to complain about frequency use, or bad operator etiquette by some stations. It is important to note that AMSAT is not a regulatory body and we do not have any control over how people use a satellite, we can only provide "moral persuasion" and hope that operators will use the minimum power required to get the communications through and not try and control the limited frequency space available on such satellites as AO-27 and UO-14. Many operators try to use these satellites with small antennas and a handheld transceiver, and do not appreciate some of the "big guns" operating with high-gain antennas and home stations. Finally, to all of you from the Board of Directors and Officers of AMSAT-NA at this festive time of the year, may I wish you all the very best of the holiday season. May you and your family have a great holiday and a very happy New Year. 73, Robin Haighton, VE3FRH President AMSAT-NA [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-348.02 ARRL AO-40 UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 348.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 16, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-348.02 AO-40 command station team member Stacey Mills, W4SM, provided ANS with current AO-40 status: In order to complete some tests of the SCOPE cameras, CEDEX and other RUDAK functions (before we move to avoid the Sun), the RUDAK system must be on from MA 70 to MA 170 on orbit 518. The Middle Beacon and transponder passbands will be off during this time. Command stations realize that this is prime weekend time, but the orbital conditions are such that we have no choice. To partially make up for this inconvenience, there will be no RUDAK session on orbit 519. Thus, orbit 519 will have the transponders active from MA 30 to MA 220. Shortly after this, we must begin moving to a more negative ALAT. Last week, ANS reported on upcoming adjustments to AO-40's attitude to compensate for unfavorable Sun angles over the next several months. The scheduled attitude shift to compensate for an unfavorable Sun angle will leave AO-40's antennas pointing away from Earth until next spring and will lead to a transponder shutdown period. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-348.03 STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT ON OSCAR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 348.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 16, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-348.03 AMSAT-NA's W2RS cordially invites all Amateur Radio satellite operators to participate in the 30th Annual Straight Key Night on OSCAR - conducted by AMSAT-NA for Amateur Radio operators around the world. The event is entirely informal; no rules or scoring and no need to send in a log! To participate just operate CW using a straight hand key through any OSCAR satellite (including the Moon - OSCAR Zero) on January 1, 2002 between 00:00 and 24:00 UTC. In keeping with the fun nature of this event, please nominate (from among those you worked), the operator with the best fist. Nominations may be sent to W2RS: E-mail: w2rs@amsat.org Packet: W2RS@WA2SNA.NJ.USA.NA Those operators receiving nominations will be recognized in an ANS bulletin in early February and in a future issue of the AMSAT Journal. [ANS thanks Ray Soifer, W2RS, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-348.04 ANS IN BRIEF AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 348.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 16, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-348.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** After eight days together, Endeavour and ISS have parted ways, with the shuttle leaving behind a new station crew and ferrying home a veteran Station crew. The new station crew, Expedition-4 Commander Yury Onufrienko and Flight Engineers Dan Bursch and Carl Walz now begin their watch aboard ISS. Endeavour is set to land at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on Monday. -NASA ** Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ, former Secretary of AMSAT-UK, is in the hospital. He will be undergoing surgery and hopes to be home by Christmas. Get well wishes can be sent to g3aaj@amsat.org. -ANS ** Tiny tubes of carbon may conduct electricity without any resistance at temperatures stretching up past the boiling point of water. The tubes would be the first superconductors to work at room temperature. -SpaceDaily ** The 2001 AMSAT Symposium awards included a presentation to Virginia Slack, KA4DDQ, in grateful appreciation for her work as Registration Coordinator for the 2001 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium. Her dedicated service and hard work in handling this aspect of our annual gathering was noted with thanks. -ANS ** Contrary to their expectations, scientists doing research in the Arctic Ocean have found evidence that the Gakkel Ridge, the world's slowest spreading mid-ocean ridge, may be very volcanically active. Using satellite images they also believe that conditions in this area of undersea vents could support previously unknown species of marine life. -SpaceDaily ** NASA reports that 22 percent of the active astronaut corps are women and the average female astronaut is 42 years old. -NASA ** South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth looks set visit the International Space Station. A Russian Space Agency official announced a contract has been signed for Shuttleworth to take part in a 10-day Soyuz mission to replace the emergency crew return Soyuz vehicle attached to ISS. -SpaceDaily ** Masa, JN1GKZ, reports hearing Sapphire's December 12th greeting messages. In addition to a spark-gap reception re-enactment, several Amateur Satellites noted the progress of 100 years of radio. PCSat transmitted Marconi's historical letter 'S' and OSCAR-1's 'HI' and Sapphire transmitted two voice announcements. -ANS ** The Canadian Space Agency announced that they have signed a contract to launch the MOST space astronomy microsatellite before the end of 2002. MOST is not an Amateur Radio satellite, but has enjoyed a close relationship with satellite designers from AMSAT-NA. The design of many elements of MOST are inspired by the AMSAT micro-satellite designs. -ANS ** The X-38 prototype crew rescue vehicle successfully completed its highest, fastest and longest flight to date recently at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, a test flight that intersected some of the most critical conditions such a craft would experience when returning from space. -NASA --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-348.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 348.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 16, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-348.05 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 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. For the current transponder-operating schedule visit: http://www.amsat-dl.org/journal/adlj-p3d.htm [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. An ARISS contact with students from the St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada area celebrated Marconi's 100th anniversary of the first trans-Atlantic wireless contact. The ISS contact took place from Cabot Tower at the Signal Hill National Historic Site in Canada using the callsigns VO1S and NA1SS. Ten students were able to have their question answered. The students had also participated in a crystal radio building contest celebrating Marconi's achievements. In the audience were approximately 125 students and another 40 adults. Graham, VO1DZA, was the control op at VO1S. 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 Miles, WF1F, has posted pictures of the new antenna system for ISS. View < http://www.marex-na.org/fileshtml/galleryantenna.html > for details. 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 Robot 29.454 MHz (145.831 MHz uplink) 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. 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 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 On December 9, 2001 Chuck, KM4NZ, reset the TEPR states on AO-27 as follows: TEPR 4 - 19 TEPR 5 - 59 [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 as mode JA through March 2002. 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-348.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 348.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 16, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-348.06 PCSat Uplink/downlink 145.830 MHz 1200 baud AX-25 AFSK via PCSAT-1 Uplink 435.250 MHz 9600 baud via PCSAT-2 APRS Downlink 144.390 MHz (Region 2) Launched: September 30, 2001 aboard an Athena-1 rocket from the Kodiak Alaska Launch Complex. Status: Operational Bob, WB4APR, reports PCSat is currently in a higher than average eclipse period and the UHF 9600-baud receivers are off. "Limited operations can continue as long as the telemetry is showing 00111111," said WB4APR. Bob also noted that no ground stations should be using PCSat via the "safe mode" callsign of W3ADO-1. 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 hand-held or mobile transceivers. 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: Semi-operational at 38k4-baud FSK Paul, KB2SHU, reports TiungSat-1 now displays the <> message during recent passes over California. Paul first observed this condition on December 6th and reports he has not been able to access the satellite since. 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] UOSAT UO-22 Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600-baud FSK Downlink 435.120 MHz FM Broadcast Callsign UOSAT5-11 BBS UOSAT5-12 Launched: July 17, 1991 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Operational Jim, AA7KC, reports UO-22 is operational with heavy individual and Sat-gate use. Downlink efficiency is generally above 50%. 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 16-October to 17-November 2001 reliable signals have been received from the 145 MHz beacon. The internal temperatures have continued to increase as the solar eclipse times decrease. These temperatures are now 7.0C and 5.0C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. Temperatures have been fairly static, indicating that the current eclipse cycle has reached a minimum value. The battery voltage observed during daylight passes is unchanged. The average value observed was 14.0 with a range of 13.8 to 14.1 volts. The rate at which the SEU counter increments has continued to increase from 417 to 479 counts per day. Decoding the SEU binary telemetry shows permanent memory failures at locations 3EC0 and 37B1. Frequent faults appear to be causing the increase in count rate. The WOD survey of channels 1, 2, 3, 61 (X, Z, Y magnetometers and status) dated 16-August-2001 has been transmitted. This survey shows the spin period to be 368 seconds. The spin period has varied between 203 and 232 seconds. 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 670/17:56:06. Time is Fri Dec 14 21:33:10 2001 +10V Bus 9.950 V +Z Array V 0.102 V +X (RX) Temp 1.814 D RX Temp 14.521 D Bat 1 V 1.183 V Bat 2 V 1.163 V Bat 3 V 1.162 V Bat 4 V 1.221 V Bat 5 V 1.131 V Bat 6 V 1.205 V Bat 7 V 1.163 V Bat 8 V 1.232 V Bat 1 Temp 10.890 D Bat 2 Temp 9.680 D Baseplt Temp 9.680 D PSK TX RF Out 0.747 W +Y Array Temp -14.524 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 6.049 D Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.306 Ifb= 0.158 I+10V= 0.163 TX:1006 BCR:1E PWRC:36E BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:5E A 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-348.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 348.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 16, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-348.07 THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL OR SEMI-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: 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 a non-operational status. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, for KO-23 status 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: Semi-operational Jim, AA7KC, reports that KO-25 still has very low downlink efficiency. One individual message is occasionally downlinked, but the satellite is unsatisfactory for normal use. 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-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. 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 Nov 30 21:03:00 2001 Orb-61900 CW-Code: ava abv aab ad6 atd abv ttu aee 5V-reg.: 4.85 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V 10V-Bat: 11.07 V 10V-Curr: 121.1 mA TX-Pwr : 0.967 W TX-Temp.: 6.27 ?C +Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 9.97 ?C CW-Code: avt abv aan ad6 aat abu ttu aee 5V-reg.: 4.89 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V 10V-Bat: 11.07 V 10V-Curr: 120.4 mA TX-Pwr : 0.967 W TX-Temp.: 5.56 ?C +Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 9.26 ?C CW-Code: avt abu aua ade aaa abu ttu aee 5V-reg.: 4.89 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V 10V-Bat: 11.01 V 10V-Curr: 120.4 mA TX-Pwr : 0.957 W TX-Temp.: 4.85 ?C +Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 8.90 ?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] 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. Max White reported to ANS that two passes of GO-32 were received recently; it still issues the burst transmission as stated above with "quite a strong signal" according to White. [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