SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-039.S1 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 039.S1 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, February 08, 2004 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-03.S1 AO-40 AMSAT OSCAR 40 Catalog number: 26609 Launch Date: November 16, 2000 Uplink V-band 145.840 - 145.990 MHz CW/LSB U-band 435.550 - 435.800 MHz CW/LSB L1-band 1269.250 - 1269.500 MHz CW/LSB L2-band 1268.325 - 1268.575 MHz CW/LSB S1-band 2400.350 - 2400.600 MHz CW/LSB Downlink: S2-band 2401.225 - 2401.475 MHz CW/USB K-band 24,048.010 - 24,048.060 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 2401.323, 24,048.035 Status: Currently Non-Operational This from Stacey Mills, W4SM 01/29/2004: The AO-40 command team has established a routine of trying to cycle the main battery off (aux. battery on) and then the S2 Tx ON every orbit, using simple machine codes. Following this, the sequence to disconnect all transmitters is sent, to protect them from low voltage. If we have approximately 10 volts on the main buss, then these commands should be making it through, but the S2 transmitter was not designed to run below 20 volts and is not coming on. The battery relay has been tested in the amsat lab, where a duplicate exists, and it will cycle reliably at 12 volts, but not lower. If we have less than 10 volts, then the commands will not be received because the IHU-1 and/or command receivers are insufficiently powered. Either way, the IHU-1 is not currently running IPS. The machine code commands only function in reset mode. We assume that we currently have less than 12 volts and that either the IHU-1 and relay are not functional (<10 volts) or the relay isn't functional (<12 volts), because cycling the relay should get us out of this situation by disconnecting the main battery.With regard to the stability of the attitude/spin, this will not be a concern for a very long time. We are currently rotating at 3.5 RPM. The spin decay rate is extremely slow. It will take approximately 4 years to drop this to 3.0 RPM. We can magnetorque at speeds as low as 1.5 RPM. The mystery effect will decrease ALON approximately 11.5 degrees/week. It does not affect ALAT, though ALAT will change slightly as the orbit precesses.MAIN BATTERY NOTES (and conjecture):The main batteries consist of three packs housed in sheet aluminum cases and bolted to the radial braces between panels 1/6, 2/3 and 4/5. The cells within the packs have threaded metal binding posts and the cells are connected by thick metal straps with strain relief "U's" in them. The pack at 2/3 consists of 7 cells and is the negative end of the chain. The pack at 1/6 consists of 6 cells and is in the middle of the chain. The pack at 4/5 consists of 7 cells and is at the positive end of the chain. The main battery pack at 1/6 is the closest battery to the "flaky" heat pipe thermistor, though it is located "below" this heat pipe near the omni end of the spacecraft. Main battery packs 4/5 and 1/6 lost their thermistors during the 400N incident. Whether this was due to trauma to the battery or damage to the cabling is unknown. If a short to ground occurred in the 1/6 battery pack it would pull the cells on the negative side of the short in this pack to zero, as well as all cells in the 2/3 pack. Depending on the location of the short and the status of the cells in pack 4/5, this could pull the main buss voltage to half normal (14 volts) or even 10 volts or below. A short at this location might have generated enough localized heat (or even some hot metal spatter) to damage the thermistor on the flaky heatpipe or, more likely, its wiring. This is appealing because it would represent a single point failure, rather than a failure cascade. One piece of evidence that doesn't clearly fit with this theory is that the cells in pack 2/3, the one main battery pack that still has a thermistor temperature sensor, do not appear to get warm following the voltage drop. We do not know how much capacity remained in these cells. It is possible they contained relatively little energy. As several of you indicated, we are in a waiting game for the main battery to develop one "open" cell. Ground stations capturing telemetry from AO-40 are asked to ZIP the file and send a copy of the dat 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-DL and Stacey Mills, W4SM for this information][02082004] ===== ARISS - INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION Catalog number: 25544 Launch date: November 20, 1998 Worldwide packet uplink: 145.990 MHz FM Region 1 voice uplink: 145.200 MHz FM Region 2/3 voice uplink: 144.490 MHz FM Worldwide downlink: 145.800 MHz FM Sponsors: AMSAT, ARRL, ARISS Status: Operational since September, 2000. Digipeater: Active The current Expedition 8 crew is: Commnader Mike Foale, KB5UAC Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri, U8MIR There currently are reports of the Packet station operating in 'simplex' mode i.e. uplink/downlink on 145.800. Please send any confirmations to ans-editor@amsat.org. The ISS daily crew schedule can be found at: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines/ Remember that the crew operates on UTC time. Also, all of the time line is NOT translated from Russian and posted. U.S. callsign: NA1SS Russian callsigns: RS0ISS, RZ3DZR TNC callsign: RS0ISS-1 More information is available at: http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/ or http://www.rac.ca/ariss or http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/unprotopage.html or http://www.issfanclub.com [ANS wishes to thank Bill, VE7WFG and the ARRL Letter][01182004] ===== AO-7 AMSAT OSCAR 7 Catalog number: 07530 Launch Date: November 15, 1974 Return to active status: June 21,2002 Uplink: 145.850 to 145.950 MHz CW/USB Mode A 432.125 to 432.175 MHz CW/LSB Mode B Downlink: 29.400 to 29.500 MHz CW/USB Mode A 145.975 to 145.925 MHz CW/USB Mode B Beacon: 29.502 MHz, 145.972 MHz, 435.1 MHz, 2304.1 MHz Status: Semi-operational in sunlight. Emily, W0EEC has created a website to allow the users of AO-7 to record contacts, observations and use of the satellite more effectively at http://www.experthams.net/ao7 This includes the ability to log contacts. Tim, K3TZ has written a program to decode AO-07 telemetry. The program can be downloaded at: http://www.qsl.net/k3tz/files/K3TZ_AO-07_Telemetry_Decoder_0.5.zip For more AO-7 info: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/ao7.html ===== RS-15 RADIO SPORT RS-15 Catalog number: 23439 Launch Date: December 26, 1994 Uplink: 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/USB Downlink: 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 29.352 MHz (intermittent) SSB meeting frequency: 29.380 MHz (unofficial) Status: Semi-operational, mode-A, using a 2-meter uplink and a 10-meter downlink. ===== FO-20 JAS-1b Catalog number: 20480 Launch Date: February 07, 1990 Uplink: 145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink: 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 435.795 Status: Semi-Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously. ===== AO-27 AMRAD Catalog number: 22825 Launched: September 26, 1993 Uplink: 145.850 MHz FM Downlink: 436.795 MHz FM Status: Operational Off the AO-27 webpage at http://www.ao27.org: February 6th, 2004 UTC The on-board watchdogs have turned the scheduler off. This was expected as the last few days of telemetry have shown lower battery voltages. We will be downloading the Whole Orbit Data and looking at why the voltage is lower. I will send a new schedule up as soon as we know what happened. Keep in mind that AO-27 is in its 11th year on orbit. If you hear the telemetry, please don't try to uplink, you will only cause interference to the command stations The latest information on AO-27 from control operator Michael Wyrick, N3UC (former N4USI), can be found at: http://www.ao27.org 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 [ANS thanks Micheal, N3UC and AMRAD for AO-27 information] [02082004] ===== FO-29 JAS-2 Catalog number: 24278 Launch Date: August 17, 1996 Voice/CW Mode JA Uplink: 145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink: 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 435.795 MHz 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 Status: Operational Mode JA. Mineo, JE9PEL, has an FO-29 satellite telemetry analysis program that will automatically analyze all digital telemetry from the satellite (such as current, voltage and temperature). FO29CWTE is available at: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ ===== SO-41 SAUDISAT-1A Launch Date: September 26, 2000 Catalog number: 26545 Uplink: 145.850 MHz Downlink: 436.775 MHz Broadcast Callsign: SASAT1-11 BBS: SASAT1-12 Status: Operational Further information is available at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/so41.html ===== SO-50 SAUDISAT-1C Catalog number: 27607 Launched: December 20, 2002 Uplink: 145.850 MHz (67.0 Hz PL tone) Downlink: 436.795 MHz Status: Operational. SO-50 carries several experiments, including a mode J FM amateur repeater experiment operating on 145.850 MHz uplink and 436.800 MHz downlink. The repeater is available to amateurs worldwide as power permits, using a 67.0 Hertz tone on the uplink, for on-demand activation. [ANS thanks Turki Al-Saud for this information] NNNN /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-039.S2 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 039.S2 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, February 08,2004, TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-039.S2 UO-11 OSCAR-11 Catalog number: 14781 Launched: March 1, 1984 Downlink: 145.826 MHz FM (1200-baud AFSK) Mode-S Beacon: 2401.500 MHz Status: Semi-operational. ===== AO-16 PACSAT Catalog number: 20439 Launch Date: January 22, 1990 Uplink: 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.96 MHz FM (using 1200-baud Manchester FSK) Downlink: 437.026 MHz SSB (1200-baud PSK) Mode-S Beacon: 2401.1428 MHz Broadcast Callsign: PACSAT-11 BBS: PACSAT-12 Status: Semi-operational, the digipeater command is on and open for APRS users. A WOD collection of current graphics along with general information and telemetry samples can be found at: http://www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for AO-16 status information] ===== UO-22 UOSAT Catalog number: 21575 Launched: July 17, 1991 Uplink: 145.900 FM 9600-baud FSK Downlink: 435.120 MHz FM Broadcast Callsign: UOSAT5-11 BBS: UOSAT5-12 Status: Operational. More information on the satellite is available at the following URL: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ ===== IO-26 ITAMSAT Catalog number: 22826 Launch Date: September 26, 1993 Uplink: 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM (1200-baud) Downlink: 435.812 MHz SSB Broadcast Callsign: ITMSAT-11 BBS: ITMSAT-12 Status: No uplinks currently This from Alberto E. Zagni - I2KBD on November 26,2003: I can confirm that IO-26 is still in Safe Mode (MBL telemetry). We have some problems to uplink the full IHT software, probably due to an unfavourable attitude of the spacecraft. Until the IHT (high level code) is reloaded, NO digipeat will be possible, since it is part of the IHT multitasking code. All the best Alberto E. Zagni - I2KBD [ANS thanks for Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD and Don Woodward, KD4APP this information] ===== NO-44 PCSAT Catalog number: 26931 Launch Date: September 30, 2001 Uplink/downlink: 145.827 MHz 1200 baud AX.25 AFSK via W3ADO-1 Aux/Uplink: 435.250 MHz 9600 baud via PCSAT-2 (off) APRS Downlink: 144.390 MHz (Region 2) Status: Semi-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 at 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. 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][02082004] ===== NO-45 SAPPHIRE Catalog number: 26932 Launch Date: September 30, 2001 Downlink: 437.095 MHz 1200 baud AX-25 AFSK Uplink: 145.945 MHz UI Digipeater Digi Callsign: KE6QMD Status: Operational. Student built Sapphire was launched through the U.S. Naval Academy Satellite program. Its primary missions are sensor experiments, a camera, and voice synthesizer. For more information, visit the Sapphire web site at: http://students.cec.wustl.edu/~sapphire/sapphire_overview.html [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for Sapphire information][02082004] ===== MO-46 TIUNGSAT-1 Catalog number: 26548 Launched: September 26, 2000 Uplink: 145.850 or 145.925 MHz 9600-baud FSK Downlink: 437.325 MHz Broadcast callsign: MYSAT3-11 BBS: MYSAT3-12 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] NNNN /EX