SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-090.01 AO-40 UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 090.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 31, 2002 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-090.01 AO-40 ground control station W4SM recently reported on the latitude drift of AO-40's sub-satellite (apogee) point. The sub-satellite point of latitude at apogee is a function of argument of perigee and the inclination of the satellite's orbit. The greater the inclination, the more the variability. Argument of Perigee (ArgP) needs a drawing to fully visualize, but it represents the angle between the perigee of the orbit and the point where the orbit crosses the equatorial plane headed north (ascending node). If ArgP = 0 or 180, then apogee is over the equator. When ArgP is less than 180 degrees, the apogee is in the southern hemisphere. When ArgP is greater than 180 degrees, apogee is in the northern hemisphere. For AO-40, ArgP is currently ~32 degrees, and increasing 0.3251 degrees each day. The duration of a full cycle is a little over 3-years. Inclination is a measure of the tilt of the orbital plane with respect to the Earth's equatorial plane. For satellites with highly elliptical orbits such as AO-40, the inclination is subject to significant solar/lunar forces which tend to alter it in a non-linear fashion. AO-40's inclination has been increasing from about 5.2 degrees in mid-2001, to the current value of 7.3 degrees. Orbital element integration, factoring in solar, lunar, and terrestrial forces show that inclination will continue to increase until it peaks at approximately 10.3 degrees in the spring of 2004. As AO-40's inclination and eccentricity change due to these forces, the rate of change of ArgP will fluctuate very slightly as well. >From a northern hemisphere perspective, the low point for elevation of AO-40 at apogee will occur in the fall of this year. Apogee elevation will then improve, peaking 18 months later (in the spring of 2004). AO-40 is currently experiencing eclipse periods of nearly 30 minutes. During a recent eclipse period, both the magnetorquers and beacon were on when the IHU detected that the battery was running low, triggering the low-voltage software-which turned the S-2 transmitter off. For the last three orbits, the battery voltage during the final 45-seconds of the eclipse period has dropped to the point where it has triggered S-2 shutoff. The shutoff is set very conservatively and the scheduling software has restarted the S-2 transmitter at MA-15 nominally each time. W4SM lowered the shutoff threshold by one count, and this should be sufficient to prevent further eclipse shutoffs for this cycle. If not, additional adjustments will be made. The current perigee eclipse cycle runs through June 19th. From August 13th to September 18th, AO-40 will experience much longer non-perigee eclipses that peak at 165 minutes duration. During these eclipses the S-2 transmitter will be turned off by the scheduler. [ANS thanks the AO-40 team for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-090.02 2ND CALL FOR PAPERS AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 090.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 31, 2002 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-090.02 This is the second call for papers for the 17th AMSAT-UK Colloquium, to be held at Surrey University, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom. The dates are July 26-28, 2002. AMSAT-UK invites speakers to submit papers about Amateur Radio space and associated activities for the event and for the Proceedings document to be published at the same time. There will be awards for the best presentations. Offers of Papers should be submitted as soon as possible; the final date for full documents to be received is mid-June 2002. Submissions should be sent to: Internet e-mail: g3rwl@amsat.org Terrestrial mail: Richard Limebear, G3RWL 60 Willow Road Enfield EN1 3NQ United Kingdom AMSAT-UK also invites anyone with requests for program topics to also submit them to G3RWL. [ANS thanks Colloquium organizer Richard Limebear, G3RWL for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-090.03 ANS IN BRIEF AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 090.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 31, 2002 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-090.03 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** The ARRL says the large number of comments filed by amateurs in opposition to SAVI Technology's plans to operate RF identification tags on 70-cm support the League's position that the proposed rules are flawed and should not be adopted. -ARRL ** A major new health check on the Earth is underway with the European Space Agency's Envisat satellite - launched by an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana. It is the largest and most sophisticated Earth observation satellite ever built. -ESA ** Lockheed Martin's new Atlas 5 booster passed its first major test recently on the way to the debut launch this summer. Over a five-day period, the Atlas team rolled the rocket on its mobile launch platform to the launch pad, loaded the super-cold propellants on board and then conducted a simulated launch countdown. -SpaceDaily ** The 2001 AMSAT Symposium awards included a presentation to Dick Jansson, WD4FAB, for his generous contribution of time and effort during the Phase 3D launch campaign. His willingness to sacrifice personal time for this endeavor is greatly appreciated by hams all over the world. -ANS ** The Expedition-4 ISS crew of RK3DUO, KD5PNU, and KC5TIE, will be spending an extra month in orbit. Problems with the robotic arm on the ISS will result in extending their mission to 189 days-a new record for the U.S. crew members. -ARRL ** NOAA has the primary responsibility within the federal government to routinely provide climate forecasts and products to the nation. Most parts of NOAA are in some way involved in El Nino research, such as monitoring and prediction. -SpaceDaily ** John Champa, K8OCL, has been named to chair the ARRL High-Speed Digital and Multimedia Working Group. Champa is a senior telecommunications engineer. The High-Speed Digital and Multimedia Working Group will review existing amateur digital networks-including packet systems and DX spotting networks and, in particular, high-speed systems--to gain an understanding of the current status. Champa is a former Executive Vice President of AMSAT-NA. -ARRL/ANS ** Studies of pristine forests in South America found that the cycling of nitrogen, an essential nutrient, was quite different than expected, and it suggests that many forests of North America and Europe actually have an unnatural ecology driven largely by air pollution, acid rain and artificial nitrogen fertilization. -SpaceDaily ** According to highly reliable sources, the AMSAT-India proposal for project VUSat is at a highly advanced stage of consideration and near-approval, with a possibility of launch to be scheduled during 2003. Possible configuration may include a mode-B linear transponder, an FM message beacon and a telemetry beacon. -Nagesh Upadhyaya --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-090.04 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 090.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 31, 2002 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-090.04 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 (various times) 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. Some 58 DXCC countries were QRV on AO-40 in 2001. Ground stations capturing telemetry from AO-40 are asked to send a copy of the data to the AO-40 archive at: ao40-archive@amsat.org. 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 RS0ISS 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. ISS packet activity has resumed. Although the mailbox function has been activated, ground stations are discouraged from using it. Currently, there is no computer hooked up to the packet system. Upcoming student contacts are scheduled with Pflugerville High School, Pflugerville, Texas; Caribbean Preparatory School San Juan, Puerto; Quogue Union Free School District, New York; Woodland Middle School, East Meadow, New York; Shenandoah Elementary School, Florida; Lucee Jeanne D'Arc, France and Ecole Louis Pergaud, France; Hambright Elementary School, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Woodland Middle School, East Meadow, New York. An archive of school contacts can be found at: http://www.msnbc.com/news/505064.asp NASA information on the ISS station can be found at: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/reference/radio/ 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 A detailed breakdown of the antenna installation with some great pictures and diagrams (depicting the entire ISS ham system including antenna's) can be downloaded at: http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/EVAs/amsat01.pdf 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 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.408 MHz Robot 29.454 MHz Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher Status: RS-12 was placed in Mode-K on February 19, 2002. 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-13 Uplink 21.260 to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 145.860 to 145.900 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 145.860 MHz Robot 145.908 MHz Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher Status: RS-13 was re-activated in Mode-T on February 19, 2002. The latest information on RS-12 and RS-13 can be found on the AC5DK RS-12/13 Satellite Operators page at: http://www.qsl.net/ac5dk/rs1213/rs1213.html [ANS thanks Kevin Manzer, AC5DK, for this information] RADIO SPORT RS-15 Uplink 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.352 MHz (intermittent) SSB meeting frequency 29.380 MHz (unofficial) Launched: December 26, 1994 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Status: Semi-operational, mode-A, using a 2-meter uplink and a 10-meter downlink Dave, WB6LLO, has operating information for both RS-15 on his web site. In addition to satellite data, antenna information for mode-A operation is also featured. The WB6LLO web site URL is: http://home.san.rr.com/doguimont/uploads [ANS thanks Dave Guimont, WB6LLO, for this information] OSCAR 10 AO-10 Uplink 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB Beacon 145.810 MHz (unmodulated carrier) Launched: June 16, 1983 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Semi-operational, mode-B. AO-10 has been locked into a 70-cm uplink and a 2-meter downlink for several years. 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 Saturday, March 30, 2002, the TEPR states on AO-27 were reset as follows: TEPR 4 - 50 TEPR 5 - 90 [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-090.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 090.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 31, 2002 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-090.05 PCSAT NO-44 Uplink/downlink 145.827 MHz 1200 baud AX-25 AFSK via PCSAT-1 Aux/Uplink 435.250 MHz 9600 baud via PCSAT-2 (off) APRS Downlink 144.390 MHz (Region 2) Launched: September 30, 2001 aboard an Athena-1 rocket from the Kodiak, Alaska launch complex. Status: Operational 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 >. The APRS-equipped PCSat was built by midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy under the guidance of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. Bob, WB4APR, reports ground stations are still not able to get PCSat into a positive power budget. Since early March, PCSat has gone through 15 deep discharges each day because its failed -Z panel prevents maximum charge (in Southern Hemisphere passes) and its +Z best face has not seen any Sun angle during orbit. Although the satellite responds to commands (while in sunshine), March 15th was the last day that an uplinked command was successful. On March 18th the digipeater was turned off for all users. However, Further analysis shows an improving sun angle, which may allow the satellite to successfully make it through this difficult period. Users should not use the satellite until further notice. 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 MO-46 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 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 moderate traffic. More information on the satellite is available at the following URL: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for UO-22 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 Happy birthday OSCAR-11, now celebrating 18 years in space! During the past year OSCAR-11 has operated continuously on both VHF and S band, with very little ground control needed. The single event upset counter has detected several permanent memory location failures, but these do not appear to be causing any malfunctions at the present time. During the period from mid-February to mid-March the internal temperatures have decreased slightly They are now 3.8C and 2.2C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. The battery voltage observed during daylight passes has decreased slightly. The average value observed was 13.7 with a range of 13.3 to 13.9 volts. The spin period has drifted between 198-266 seconds. The attitude is controlled solely by the gravity boom gradient. 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 776/07:53:54. Time is Sat Mar 30 11:38:00 2002 +10V Bus 11.000 V +Z Array V 22.711 V +X (RX) Temp -1.212 D RX Temp -3.027 D +5V Bus 4.718 V +8.5V Bus 8.776 V BCR Set Point 122.365 C BCR Load Cur 0.420 A +8.5V Bus Cur 0.031 A +5V Bus Cur 0.214 A BCR Input Cur 0.431 A BCR Output Cur 0.348 A Bat 1 Temp 5.444 D Bat 2 Temp 6.049 D Baseplt Temp 6.049 D PSK TX RF Out 1.831 W +Y Array Temp 6.049 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 6.049 D +Z Array Temp 4.839 D Total Array C= 0.407 Bat Ch Cur=-0.072 Ifb= 0.024 I+10V= 0.397 TX:1009 BCR:7F PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:34 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-090.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 090.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 31, 2002 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-090.06 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: Non-operational. Jim, AA7KC, reports 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 KO-25 is essentially non-operational due to very low downlink efficiencies. KO-25 did show a brief sign of life recently, but not much useful data was downlinked. [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 2001. In addition, Sangat, 9M2SS, reports he has not copied UO-36 since July 30, 2001. 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 Wed Jan 25 20:58:00 2002 LUSAT HIHI 60 CW-Code: ava abv aav adb at4 ab6 ttu aae 5V-reg.: 4.85 V 8.5V-reg: 6.44 V 10V-Bat: 11.07 V 10V-Curr: 123.2 mA TX-Pwr : 0.977 W TX-Temp.: 7.68 ?C +Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 11.39 ?C CW-Code: ava abv aa4 adb ate abe ttu aee 5V-reg.: 4.85 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V 10V-Bat: 11.07 V 10V-Curr: 122.5 mA TX-Pwr : 0.977 W TX-Temp.: 7.33 ?C +Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 11.04 ?C CW-Code: ava abv aae adb at6 abe ttu aee 5V-reg.: 4.85 V 8.5V-reg: 8.68 V 10V-Bat: 11.07 V 10V-Curr: 122.5 mA TX-Pwr : 0.977 W TX-Temp.: 6.97 ?C +Z-Sol.: 0.30 V Box-Temp: 10.68 ?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, 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, 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 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] 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. 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. The satellite is still operating, however, the spread spectrum packet radio portion never took place. The spacecraft is now beyond it's initial 2-year mission life, but telemetry records are still being downloaded. 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